IEBC dispatches ballot papers to 22 areas ahead of by-elections next week

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has sounded a warning to election offenders in the upcoming by-election, stating that candidates found culpable will be disqualified and prosecuted.

Speaking while overseeing the dispatch of electoral materials, including ballot boxes, ballot papers and voting booths to 22 areas that have been mapped out as designated venues for the November 27th by-elections, IEBC Commissioner Hassan Noor Hassan said voter bribery during campaigns is an electoral offense and that the agency is yet to receive official complaints implicating specific candidates in the build up to next week's polls.

A total of 39 sealed cases containing ballot boxes, ballot papers and voting booths among other electoral materials were dispatched Friday morning from the government's national warehouses in Industrial Area to 22 center headquarters where next week's by-elections will be conducted.

“Sasa hivi tuko katika matayarisho ya mwisho ya kusafirisha bidhaa ili kuhakikisha kwamba tunaweka mazingira mwafaka ya kupiga kura. Tunatumia ndege kusafirisha kituo cha Turkana,” said Noor.

The electoral watchdog warned politicians against violating the laid down election practice such as voter bribery before, during and after next week's Thursday mini -polls.

“If we formally receive such complaints we will definitely take action…we want to assure Kenyans that we will conduct free and fair elections,” he said.

"Nataka kuhakikishia wapigaji wote hasa Homa Bay, Kasipul, kwamba police IG ametuhakikishia kwamba usalama utaimarishwa,” noted Noor.

There are 23 pending by-elections in various electoral areas in the country including one in the Senate, six in the National Assembly and 16 in the wards.