On Monday evening, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) canceled the elections for the governor position in Kakamega and Mombasa Counties following printing errors and mix-up ballot papers.
(See Full Press Conference at the end of the article| Credit KTN)
“Ballot papers for Kakamega county governor positions, Mombasa County, have wrong gubernatorial candidate pictures and the details printed on them. Positions for members of the National Assembly in Pokot South and three in Kachiriba also have wrong candidate pictures and the details printed on them,” Chebukati said.
The revelation has raised questions about IEBC’s preparedness and quality control. Chebukati did not explain how the errors occurred.
Mombasa and Kakamega gubernatorial races had pending court cases that took a long time to resolve. In Mombasa, former Nairobi governor Mike Sonka battled challenges to his candidature and was not resolved until late July.
In Kakamega, a challenge to gubernatorial candidate Cleophas Malala’s academic credentials was not resolved until late July 15th.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said new dates for the polls in the affected areas would be issued via a gazette notice. Elections for the member of parliament in Kachiliba and South Pokot Constituencies have also been suspended due to similar problems as in Mombasa and Kakamega counties.
Chebukati, in a press statement on Monday evening, also revealed arsonists burned down some classrooms in Mandera County designated to be used as polling centers. However, he said that polling would continue in those places.
“Security has been beefed up in the affected school, and the remaining classes will be used for voting,” Chebukati said.
Besides, Chebukati said that a Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kit meant for Moyale County went missing Monday morning. Consequently, the IEBC blacklisted the equipment, and “it won’t be useful to anyone.”
The red flags in Mombasa County were conspicuous as early as 10 am Monday when reports went around that ballot papers for gubernatorial candidates meant for Mvita Constituency polling centers were missing. Instead, the constituency received ballots for Kilifi gubernatorial candidates.
“Ballot papers for Kakamega county governor positions, Mombasa County, have wrong gubernatorial candidate pictures and the details printed on them. Positions for members of the National Assembly in Pokot South and three in Kachiriba also have wrong candidate pictures and the details printed on them,” Chebukati said.
Masha Sudi, Mvita Constituency’s returning officer, acknowledged the confusion to the press at noon and said they were working on resolving the matter in time for the vote.
“We have received ballot papers for Kilifi. However, that’s a challenge that’s within our reach, and we will solve it soon,” Sudi said.
He spoke at Allidina Visram High School, the distribution center for Mvita Constituency’s election materials, after overseeing the opening and distribution of ballot papers to various polling centers within Mvita when they discovered the mix-up.
Concerning the confusion caused by the missing ballot papers, Sudi said he had channeled communication to the relevant authorities, and action had started to address the problem.
“I’m appealing to Mombasa residents to remain calm and rest assured that tomorrow morning they will vote for their preferred governor candidate,” Sudi said.
Further, he asked people to stop speculations over where their gubernatorial candidate ballot papers were “because even us can’t tell where, but the issue will be solved in time.”
However, the returning officer said the problem could have originated in the packaging of the materials abroad, where the exercise was done and sealed.
“We received them sealed and opened them for the first time, in front of the people and the media. You know those are Europeans, and perhaps they thought Kilifi and Mombasa are the same,” he said.
He said that on Tuesday, the polling centers would be opened at 6 am, and the voting exercise will start and run through 5 pm. However, he added, if there are people in the queue at 5 pm, they shall be allowed to cast their votes. Those who will come past 5 pm will not be allowed to vote.
“We received them sealed and opened them for the first time, in front of the people and the media. You know those are Europeans, and perhaps they thought Kilifi and Mombasa are the same,” Masha Sudi, Mvita Returning Officer, said.
The officer said Mvita Constituency has 203 polling centers, including the Jela Baridi (King’orani) prison polling center. He promised to ensure the presiding officers were released to their polling centers before Monday dusk.
“We ask the people of Mombasa to vote peacefully and trust us to deliver a free and fair election,” Sudi said.
Following the cancellation of the gubernatorial polls in Mombasa by IEBC, UDA’s Hassan Omar issued a statement and said the errors were mischief.
“My running mate, Hon. Selina Maitha and I have learned with shock and disbelief of the intended postponement of the Mombasa Gubernatorial elections,
In the circumstance, I read mischief and malice in the intended postponement. We are confident of victory,” the statement read in part.
Omar said he was in the process of consulting with his team and the United Democratic Alliance, UDA, and Kenya Kwanza leadership before making further communication.
Omar urged his supporters to remain calm and vigilant and turn out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right for the remaining elective positions.
Wycliffe Oparanya, the Kakamega Governor and deputy party leader of ODM, also questioned the decision to suspend the elections in the two counties.
“IEBC’s decision to suspend gubernatorial elections in Kakamega and Mombasa counties is a scheme to rig the elections.
“I question why they had to stop gubernatorial elections in Azimio presidential candidate Hon Raila Odinga strongholds and backyards,” Oparanya said.
He said the announcement had caused jitters and would even “cause chaos if not handled well.”
Nonetheless, the outgoing governor appealed to Azimio supporters “to turn out in large numbers tomorrow and vote for Azimio candidates.”
Chebukati said the commission hired almost 500,000 temporary staff to run, supervise and guard this year’s election. He said the media, both local and international, was “free to tally the results but cannot declare the winner.”
