IEBC dismisses ballot stuffing claims as misleading amid tense by-elections
The commission urged the public to rely on verified information and cautioned against propaganda intended to undermine the electoral process.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed circulating reports of ballot stuffing during Thursday’s by-elections, describing the claims as misleading and inaccurate, even as several constituencies reported pockets of violence and disruptions.
In a statement on X, the commission said its ballot management procedures, conducted in the presence of party agents, election observers and the media, make any form of vote tampering virtually impossible. It added that each ballot paper carries multiple security features that cannot be duplicated.
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"Circulating allegations of ballot stuffing are misleading and inaccurate. Our ballot management procedures make such claims practically impossible. Voting is conducted in the full presence of agents, observers & the media. Each ballot paper contains multiple security features that cannot be reproduced," IEBC said in a statement.
"We urge the public to rely on verified information from the Commission and reject falsehoods meant to undermine the Electoral process," it added.
The commission urged the public to rely on verified information and cautioned against propaganda intended to undermine the electoral process.
Alongside addressing the claims, IEBC appealed to Kenyans to maintain peace and trust the electoral system, noting that Thursday’s by-elections across 22 constituencies had been marred by isolated incidents of violence and confrontation.
"We urge all citizens and leaders to uphold peace throughout voting, counting, results announcement, and the post-election period. Violence and intimidation have no place in our democracy. We call on security agencies to act firmly where breaches occur. Let’s protect the integrity of the vote," the commission said.
The day’s polls were marked by high tension and isolated clashes. In Kasipul Constituency, Homa Bay Town MP and ODM chief agent Peter Kaluma sustained a head injury after being assaulted by youths allegedly supporting independent candidate Philip Aroko at Agoro Sare Primary School.
Kaluma, who arrived ahead of ODM candidate Boyd Were Ong’ondo, was rushed to the hospital after the fracas, which also saw his firearm reportedly stolen. Eyewitnesses said the confrontation began when Aroko visited a polling station nearby, prompting the youths to challenge Kaluma’s presence in the constituency.
In Mbeere North, Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku was forced to retreat from Kanyuambora Polling Station after residents accused him of attempting to interfere with the voting process. Demonstrators blocked the station’s entrance, vowing to “guard the votes to the last minute,” while the polling station descended into confusion amid chanting and shouting.
Earlier, former Attorney General Justin Muturi had confronted a UDA agent at Siakago Social Hall, ejecting him for wearing party colours inside the polling station. According to Muturi, the agent was ejected for wearing yellow clothing, which is one of the official colours of the UDA party. He argued that it is against election rules for anyone to wear party colours within the polling station area.
Meanwhile, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has called for the immediate arrest of Muturi over alleged chaos witnessed in Mbeere North. Cherargei also called on the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to consider removing Muturi from the roll of advocates following his unprecedented behaviour at the Siakago polling station.
In Malava, tensions escalated after DAP-K candidate Seth Panyako was arrested under unclear circumstances following a chaotic encounter at a polling station. The party accused unidentified goons—allegedly operating under police supervision—of injuring agents, destroying property, and intimidating their candidate. The same morning, a vehicle belonging to DAP-K Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa was set ablaze in Manyonje, Butali Ward, further raising concerns about security during the by-elections.
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