IEBC warns Ol Kalou by-election faces postponement or cancellation over violence

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has warned that the July 16 Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election could be postponed or cancelled if escalating violence and electoral malpractices continue to threaten the integrity of the poll.

Speaking on Thursday during the launch of the 2022 Pre-Election Dispute Resolution Committee Report and Case Digest, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the commission had received disturbing reports from Ol Kalou, including violent confrontations, voter bribery, intimidation, misinformation, campaigns conducted beyond the legally permitted hours and the alleged mobilisation of gangs and firearms.

"If we find that the environment is not conducive enough for us to conclude the by-election in Ol Kalou, we will be left with no choice other than to take the unfortunate and drastic step of postponing the election. If that is not enough, we will cancel it altogether," Ethekon said.

"And that would be a very sad day for the citizens, innocent residents, citizens of Ol Kalou, because they will lose an opportunity to be represented in Parliament."

He said the commission had already dispatched a team of investigators to work with electoral officials on the ground to establish the facts and gather evidence before taking appropriate action against those found to have breached the Electoral Code of Conduct.

Ethekon said the commission was particularly concerned by reports circulating on social media, including claims of voter bribery, the mobilisation of gangs and misinformation aimed at misleading voters.

"What we are seeing, even on social media, is very disheartening, especially the rhetoric and misinformation by some leaders who are telling the people of Ol Kalou that they do not need national identity cards to vote. We have also seen rhetoric around outright bribery and the mobilisation of gangs and goons. I don't think we're inventing the story," he said.

He added that the commission would firmly enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct, with the Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee set to summon individuals implicated by the investigations.

"We will be very firm in enforcing the Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee, which is already duly constituted, will summon those identified by our investigations as having interfered, or attempted to interfere, with the elections in Ol Kalou. When we find any culpability or breaches of the Code of Conduct, the proper remedies shall apply, up to and including disqualifying candidates involved," Ethekon said.

The IEBC chair noted that one person died following election-related confrontations in Ol Kalou on July 1, describing the incident as "very sad and unfortunate." He said the commission had also received reports that while the constituency remained calm during the day, violence erupted at night, with rival political supporters engaging in running battles and vandalising campaign materials.

Ethekon said the commission had already spent more than Sh30 million preparing for the by-election, with ballot papers already delivered and election materials deployed.

He also appealed to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to investigate allegations of voter bribery and other election offences, saying those responsible should be prosecuted to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.