An IEBC official has been arrested at Woodley in Kibra constituency for allegedly bribing voters in the polling station.
Confirming the incident, Nairobi police boss Philip Ndolo stated that the official had been arrested and detained for further interrogations after his attempts to bribe voters were stopped by the officers.
Earlier on, two people were also arrested at Mashimoni Squatters polling station in the constituency after they were allegedly found dishing out bribe money to voters.
They were, however, lucky to be saved by the police officers from an angry crowd which was paying for their blood. Security has already been beefed up at the constituency to avert any bribery claims.
IEBC official arrested in Woodley for allegedly bribing voters, Nairobi Area police boss Philip Ndolo confirms.#KibraByelection #KibraDecides pic.twitter.com/v3p1GEFh3v
— The Star Breaking (@TheStarBreaking) November 7, 2019
Even as the voting process continues in Kibra constituency, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, IEBC has issued a strong warning after photos of ballot papers in the constituency went viral.
Photos containing the names and pictures of candidates in the mini poll started circulating on most social media sites from as early as 6 am on Wednesday morning.
With things threatening to get out of hand, the commission, through its official social media pages warned the citizens against taking photos of the already marked ballot papers and sharing them online.
IEBC said the act was violating the secrecy of the ballot and was therefore punishable by law.
Voters are warned that violating secrecy of the ballot through sharing of photos of marked ballot papers is punishable in law #byelections2019 #talkwithIEBC pic.twitter.com/XNnAVHLAVm
— IEBC (@IEBCKenya) November 7, 2019
Under the Elections Act of 2011, The Elections Offences Act requires every officer, candidate, voter or agent in attendance at a polling station to maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of the ballot.
The Act also forbids such an officer from communicating any information as to the name or number of voters on the register who has or has not applied for a ballot paper or who has voted at that station or as to the official mark except for a purpose authorized by law before the poll is closed.
“A person who contravenes these provisions on secrecy commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both,” read chapter 184 of the act.