NAIROBI, July 27 (NNN-KBC) — The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has reassured the country of a credible electoral process 12 days to the elections.
The assurance comes days after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confiscated stickers belonging to polling stations in 10 counties.
In a statement IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati veered off the controversy, saying the stickers were non-strategic election materials and should not be a cause of alarm.
The statement came amid calls for the electoral body and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to amicably settle their differences.
The DCI also arrested three Venezuelans as they confiscated the said election materials drawing varying reactions from political leaders in the Country.
The DCI accused Chebukati of failing to address issues raised by police when the three foreigners were arrested with election materials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The police had raised queries on why such vital components of a national electoral process can be ferried under such circumstances, accusing IEBC and its Chairperson of inconsistencies in explaining the roles of the three foreign nationals.
Chebukati however said the stickers were printed based on the details of the gazette notice published on July 1, 2022.
He said the arrested Venezuelans were employees of Smartmatic Holding limited; the company contracted in 2021 to provide technological support in the August elections.
The ongoing exchanges between IEBC and investigative agencies has been castigated by a section of Kenyans, who have challenged the electoral body to build public confidence ahead of the much anticipated polls. — NNN-KBC
