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IEBC Gets New Vice-Chairperson

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Juliana Whonge Cherare has been unanimously elected as new vice-chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

IEBC in a statement issued on Wednesday September 15, 2021 said Cherare was unanimously elected during a plenary meeting held at the Commission Boardroom on Tuesday.

The electoral body further assured all stakeholders and the public of its commitment to delivering a free, fair and credible general election in 2022.

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“The commission takes this opportunity to congratulate Cherera on her appointment,” reads the statement in part.

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IEBC has been without a chairperson since the resignation of Connie Maina in 2018. 

The statement came just moments after the Catholic Bishops urged the Commission to move with speed and put in place in good time the necessary systems and processes to ensure free and fair elections.

In particular, the bishops urged the commission to hire a new CEO.

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Politics

Kiambaa By-election: IEBC Fires Response To Moses Kuria Over Rigging Claims

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has responded to Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria after he claimed that a section of its clerks were being used to rig the Kiambaa by-election.

Moses Kuria through his official Facebook account on Thursday July 15 claimed that IEBC clerks from Kingothua Primary polling station had sneaked out KIEMS kits and that they were using them to conduct voting at Valentine growers plantation.

Kuria went ahead to share pictures of the vehicle that was allegedly being used to ferry the clerks, arguing that he had tried to reach out to IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati but he was not picking his calls.

However, IEBC in response to the claims said that Moses Kuria was making false allegations. The electoral agency noted that the said vehicle is one of its vehicles and that it was being used by the commission’s staff who are providing technical support in the polling process in Kiambaa.

“The car in question is an IEBC vehicle being used by Commission staff who are providing technical support to the polling process. The post by Moses Kuria is therefore a false allegation,” tweeted IEBC.

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Crime & Investigations

Top IEBC Official Found Murdered

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been thrown into deep mourning.

The commission on Thursday, January 21 confirmed that one of its staff members has been found murdered.

According to IEBC, the official identified as Brian Silale lost his life in the ongoing Kapedo attacks.

Silale, a Constituency Administrative Assistant for Tiaty Constituency Office, was among the six bodies that were found dumped in Arabal area.

“Mr Silale was last seen alive being picked by unknown person, together with five (5) other people, from Chemolingot shopping centre in Tiati Sub-County on January 19, 20201 at about 3 p.m.

“He was later murdered under unclear circumstances and the remains of his body together with other bodies were recovered on Wednesday, January 20 at Arabal Sub-location,” read the statement in part.

The IEBC called on the state to investigate the incident with immediate effect and apprehend the culprits. 

The bodies of the six individuals were found dressed in suits and neckties – a rare dressing style in a village where most residents are herders.

The are suspected to include a Human Resource Officer, a Primary School Headmaster, an MTC student and a businessman.

Tiaty MP William Kamket has been arrested over the banditry attacks in Kapedo that have left at least seven people dead so far.

The KANU lawmaker was apprehended by detectives in Nairobi County on Thursday, January 21. 

Reports stated that he was detained at Kileleshwa Police Station. 

Kamket was accused of inciting local citizens to revolt. The issue is facing a number of challenges, from land and boundary cases to civil wars among various communities. 

Interior CS Fred Matiang’i had on Tuesday, January 19, after a meeting with security officials, revealed that operations in the area would be ongoing until individuals behind attacks there were caught.

The warning came after chaos in the neighboring Kapedo, Turkana County left a police commander dead.

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Politics

IEBC Says Raila’s Sh2 billion Referendum Proposal Cost Impossible, Gives New Figure

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Weeks after Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga estimated the cost of carrying out a referendum at Ksh2 billion, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has come out to dismiss the figure, saying that the cost is imposiible.

Raila during the recent swearing-in of ODM’s National Election Board and Disciplinary Committee members said the Building Bridges Initiative referendum should not cost more than Sh2 billion.

Raila went further to insist that the referendum must be done before the 2022 general elections since the country has all the resources required for the exercise to successfully take place.

However, IEBC Commissioner Boya Molu on Friday said it will cost not less than Sh10 billion to carry out the exercise in the country.

Molu who spoke during commemoration of the international day of democracy hosted by Centre of Multiparty Democracy Kenya said going by the last presidential repeat elections, a referendum will not cost less than Sh10 billion.

According to Molu, the commission needs to hire not less than 50,000 vehicles on election day, and it is impossible for them to get a vehicle for less than Sh10,000.

He said the commission will also need to hire 350,000 poll officials on election day.

The officials include Presiding Officers and their deputies, clerk’s, at least two police officers for every polling station.

“I may not be able to give you exact figure but going by the last presidential repeat elections, a referendum will not cost less than Sh10 billion.On election day you hire not less than 50,000 vehicles and you cannot get a vehicle for less than Sh10,000. We also have to hire 350,000 poll officials on election day,” Molu was quoted by a local daily to have said.

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Politics

Former Presidential Aspirant Reveals How Raila, Uhuru Caused Errors Experienced on IEBC Servers

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Former Presidential aspirant Mohamed Abduba Dida has revealed that real cause of errors witnessed on Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) servers.

The commission was on Sunday May 17, 2020 forced to pull down the 2017 General Election report a day after publication following public uproar over numerous irregularities.

The Wafula Chubakati led commission in a statement issued through its social media platforms said the data had been recalled due to few typographic errors occasioned by massive data were noted.

Mwalimu Mohamed Abduba Dida. PHOTO/COURTESY

came under fire for a few glaring mistakes including wrongful listing of Members of Parliament for various constituencies as well as the political parties some of them vied on.

The report listed Suba North MP as Noah Odhiambo instead of Millie Odhiambo, who it also said had vied on an Amani National Congress (ANC) party ticket instead of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

Kabondo Kasipul MP was listed as Silvance Osele instead of Dr. Eve Obara; Dagoretti South MP as Dennis Waweru instead of John Kiarie; and the 2017 election winner for Kibra parliamentary seat as Judah Martin Oduor instead of the late Ken Okoth.

However, Abduba Dida has come out to claim that Raila Odinga-led NASA coalition and President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee are the real cause of the errors witnessed.

Through a post on his official twitter account, Dida claims that the viruses that Jubilee and NASA hackers uploaded to IEBC servers are still active.

According to the Alliance for Real Change party leader, IEBC drives must be hard-formatted. The system must also be completely reprogrammed.

Dida says Raila and his team tampered with IEBC systems by hiring hackers to hack into the system. He says Jubilee’s hacker manipulated figures and that is why most winners had same percentage of votes.

NASA’s hackers, according to Dida, hacked into the system to download the evidence. This is why NASA had so much evidence.

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Politics

Shameless IEBC Closes 2017 Servers After Presenting Errors in the Name of Data

by Gabriel Omolo
written by Gabriel Omolo

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been forced to recall the 2017 general elections data that it had uploaded on its website.

This is after the data displayed typographic errors, which the commission says were occasioned by massive data.

The Wafula Chebukati led commission has apologized to Kenyans, saying that the corrected document will be re-uploaded and shared in due course.

“The Commission has recalled the 2017 General Election data that was uploaded on the IEBC website after afew typographic errors occasioned by massive data were noted.The corrected document will be re-uploaded and shared in due course. Inconvenience caused highly regrettable,” posted IEBC.

On Saturday May 16, the commission announced that it had uploaded the 2017 elections data. Kenyans being anxious to know what really happened with the 2017 disputed election, they rushed to click on the shared link, only for them to be disappointed by the typographic errors they encountered.

“The Commission has uploaded the 2017 General Election Data on the IEBC website. Follow the link to access the information.Download: https://bit.ly/2017DataReport,” tweeted IEBC.

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Politics

IEBC Postpones All Elections

by Muthoni Kamande
written by Muthoni Kamande

Wafula Chebukati-led Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has postponed all the upcoming by-elections.

This follows the coronavirus pandemic that has continued to affect the economy of the country.

In a press release issued on Wednesday evening, the electoral agency noted that the pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges towards delivering of its mandate.

It further noted that its day to day operations have been greatly affected.

The commission was set to conduct by-elections in Dabaso ward (Kilifi County), Kahawa Wendani Ward (Kiambu County), Kisumu North ward (Kisumu County), Wundanyi/Mbale ward (Taita Taveta County) and Msambweni Constituency for a parliamentary seat that was left vacant following the demise of MP Suleiman Dori.

The elections have also been postponed to avoid public gatherings that would be witnessed during campaigns and nominations.

The government has hence banned public gatherings as a measure of stopping the spread of COVID-19.

A later date will be announced by the commission for each of the by-elections that were to be held.

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Politics

Tangatanga Senator Tears Into IEBC After Saying Igathe Still Nairobi Deputy Governor

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Tanga Tanga senator has tore into Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after the commission said Polycarp Igathe is still Nairobi’s Deputy Governor.

The electoral agency on Thursday said it is not aware the the former governor Mike Sonko’s deputy resigned from the county job.

According to IEBC, Igathe’s resignation letter never reached them.

Igathe was elected to the position of Deputy Governor Nairobi City County in the 2017 general elections on the Jubilee political party ticket, as Mike Sonko’s running mate.

He resigned abruptly on 12 January 2018, citing lack of trust from his boss.

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Kericho senator Aaron Cheruiyot has tore into the Wafula Chebukati led commission for saying that Igathe never resigned.

The Same @IEBCKenya that recently cleared a nominee to be vetted by Nairobi CA for Dep Gov now says that as per their records Igathe is still DG .Anybody still denying that Bangi na Uchawi imetulemea huku Kenya ?” the lawmaker posted on twitter.

“Dear Nairobians, it is with a heavy heart that I resign my seat as elected Deputy Governor of Nairobi City County effective 1pm on 31st Jan 2018.

“I regret I have failed to earn the trust of the Governor to enable me to drive Admin & Management of the county. Without fear, favour or ill will I step down to avoid abusing or betraying my oath of office to Kenyans, Nairobians and my family. Thank you for the encouraging support given to me so far,” he said in a post on his Twitter account.

The statement by IEBC that Igathe never resigned has caused an uproar, with some politicians question the integrity of the commission.

Last month, the electoral commission cleared Anne Kananu Mwenda to be vetted by Nairobi County Assembly for the DG job.

This has made several Kenyans to question the integrity of the electoral agency, with some speculating that there must be something cooking.

Some argue that there is a plot to get Igathe back to City hall to take over as city boss.

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Politics

IEBC issues stern warning to Kibra voters as voting process continues

by Nathan Sialah
written by Nathan Sialah

The Independent and Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has warned voters in the on going Kibra Constituency by-election against sharing pictures of marked Ballot papers on social media.

In a statement posted on its Twitter account, the electoral body has warned those to be violating the directive of dire consequences.

The commission asked voters to adhere to secrecy of Ballot violation stating that it is an electoral offense punishable by law.

The warning came after various pictures of marked Ballot papers were making rounds on social media on Thursday morning, hours after opening of the polling stations. 

Two people have so far been arrested by the police since the mini-polls started in the morning for voter bribery allegations, the Chebukati led commission stated.

Voters began polling on early Thursday morning to vote for a new Member of parliament to succeed the late Ken Okoth. The polling stations opened on 6 am and is expected to close at 6pm.

ODM is trying to defend the seat through its candidate the brother to the late Ken, Imran Okoth while Jubilee on the other hand fielded veteran footballer McDonald Mariga.

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Politics

IEBC validates petition to suspend Taita Taveta County

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has validated the petition to suspend Taita Taveta County government.

This is after the electoral agency confirmed that the petition meets the required legal threshold of Section 123(2) of the County Government Act of 2012.

The electoral body verified that the petition presented to IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati last month is supported by 21, 861 registered voters of Taita Taveta.

Taita Taveta governor Granton Samboja in July signed a memorandum to initiate the petition, a move he termed necessary after longstanding wrangles between the executive and the county assembly culminated into an impasse over the county’s budget.

Mr Samboja said the wrangles had adversely affected development in the county and called for its dissolution to end the tussle after attempts to initiate dialogue between both factions failed.

ODM leader Raila Odinga, Council of Governors (CoG) chairman Wycliffe Oparanya and Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi were involved in talks to resolve the row between the county’s executive and assembly but proved unsuccessful.

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Politics

ODM records first win in Kibra by elections

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

With just less than 24 hours left to Kibra by elections, the High Court has ordered the electoral board, IEBC, to furnish ODM with Kibra Constituency voters’ register before the by-election penciled in for Thursday November 7.

Justice James Makau said the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) violated ODM’s rights by denying the outfit access to the updated voters’ register.

The Commission was sued by ODM, who told the courts that IEBC literally refused to release to them or publish details of the new number of registered voters in Kibra.

In a suit filed at the High Court last Monday, ODM said it had written several letters to IEBC, seeking to be granted access to the voters’ register, but the agency did not heed their request.

IEBC asked the court to allow them seven days to furnish ODM with the information, but the judge declined to grant the respondents their request.

IEBC argued it was impossible to supply the register, given “there is a short time left before the November 7 by-election”.

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Politics

Details of IEBC, ODM Meeting Over Kibra Mini Polls

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party on Wednesday morning held a meeting with Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission at Anniversary Towers over the upcoming Kibra constituency by-elections.

The meeting followed concerns raised by the Raila Odinga-led party over Kibra voters register where ODM had claimed that Jubilee party had manipulated the register to rig the polls.

During the meeting, the two came to a conclusion that the register which ODM was demanding will be available for the public on 18th October 2019.

They also agreed that in this elections,there will be no transmission of results as it has been a norm in most polls . The commission said that the whole process will be done manually.

IEBC agreed to use the 2017 voter register in the November 7 by-election after a two-hour meeting with ODM leaders in Nairobi.

The commission’s chairman Wafula Chebukati said that all poll officials who participate in Kibra by-elections will be shared with the political parties through the officer of the registrar of parties and if there are any issues those concerns will be raised by the parties.


De La Rue will print ballot papers.

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Politics

IEBC Bows to ODM Pressure, Issues Status of Kibra Register of Voters

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Wafula Chebukati-led Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been forced to issue status of Kibra constituency register of voters.

This follows claims by Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement party that the commission is secretly planning with Jubilee party to rig the upcoming Kibra by-elections.

But IEBC through a press release on Tuesday evening says that following the death of Hon Ken Okoth and subsequent receipt of the writ from the Speaker of the National Assembly, and in line with Section 5 (1) (b) of the Elections Act, the Commission suspended Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in Kibra Constituency.

ODM through its MPs on Tuesday claimed that the commission has been registering voters in favor of Jubilee candidate McDonald Mariga.

The Raila-led party has vowed to conduct demonstrations at Anniversary Towers to push IEBC to avail the updated Kibra register of voters.

But IEBC notes further that it embarked on the process of facilitating the voters registered during CVR to participate in the upcoming by election immediately after receiving the notice of vacancy from the Speaker of the National Assembly.

According to the commission, the process entails uploading of CVR data to the biometric voter registration (BVR) server, performing duplication process, production of the preliminary register, quality assurance and inspection of the preliminary register of voters, approval by the Commission, certification and distribution to the Constituency.

The commission notes that the Number of registered Voters as at 2017 is 118,276.

Number of voters registered by CVR and Uploaded is 333.

Number of Transfers into the Constituency is 44.

Number of transfers within the constituency is 22.

Number deleted is one.

Name updates (change of voters biographic details) stands at one.

See the full press release below.

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Politics

Mariga Reinstated as Jubilee Flag Bearer in Kibra

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee has reversed the verdict of the Kibra Returning Officer and has allowed Jubilee Party’s McDonald Mariga to run in the Kibra MNA by election on 7th November, 2019.

Reading the verdict, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati confirmed that Mariga will subsequently be included in the list of candidates running for the Kibra by election.

Mariga petitioned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission after Kibra returning officer Beatrice Muli invalidated his nomination on grounds that his name was missing from the register of voters.

Making the ruling on Monday, IEBC Dispute Tribunal said it is obligated to conduct continuous registration of citizens as voters.

“It is our finding that the complainant was duly registered as a voter,” IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati said.

Mariga’s legal team led by lawyer Elisha Ongoyi pushed Muli to admit an error on her part and pleaded with the committee to rectify the mistake by overturning the decision.

The seat fell vacant after former MP Ken Okoth died of cancer on July 26 at the Nairobi Hospital.

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Politics

IEBC Opens up on Why it Had to Bar Mariga From Kibra Race

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) returning officer Beatrice Muli has explained why she had to block Jubilee candidate McDobald Mariga from the upcoming Kibra by-election.

Muli said that the electoral body was transparent citing that Mariga’s documents were received by the electoral body on Tuesday and handled through the same process as other candidates.

“We received Mariga document on September 10 and Mariga went through the nomination process the same way other candidates did. We have a checklist which we use to clear candidates,” she said.

Muli said the pertinent documents were first submitted to verification desk and forwarded to her.

She said IEBC nomination checklist requires aspirant be a registered voter.

Muli insisted that the only way the returning officer can verify if the aspirant is a registered voter is checking the register in the KIEMS.

She said however in Mariga’s case, upon presenting his ID cards, the Jubilee aspirant’s could not be found in the KIEMS.

The search was repeated several times but his details could still not be found.

“As indicated, Mariga names details could not be found in the register and therefore the candidate is not qualified as per our checklist, as the RO guided with the regulations the law, therefore, guided me to invalidate the candidature of Mariga,” she said.

 According to section 5 (1) b of the Elections Act, all electoral activities including voter registration must stop upon declaration of a vacancy.

“Mariga applied for registration on August 26 after the vacancy was declared on August 14 and IEBC gazetted the by-election on August 16, two days later. By law, the application must be brought to headquarters and all details confirmed before they can be put in the voters’ roll. Once that is done the register will have to be gazetted.

“In this case, Mariga’s application is still pending. He cannot, therefore, be cleared to vie,” said an IEBC official.

But despite the written opinion by the legal team, commissioners – Chebukati, Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu – met on Wednesday and ordered  Beatrice Muli, the returning officer, to clear Mariga.

But Muli declined to clear the ex-Harambee Stars international because his name was missing from the voter’s roll.

It is understood that Muli also feared that she would be held personally liable for any election malpractice.

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Politics

Why Mariga Will Still Lose an Appeal Lodged Against IEBC

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

After being handed a red card on Tuesday evening by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Jubilee party candidate in Kibra by-elections McDonald Mariga indicated that he will appeal the decision within seven days, a move that was backed by Lang’ata MP Nixon Korir and former Kakamega senator Dr Boni Khalwale.

But will it be a journey easy to walk? Well, political pundits are now weighing into circumstances that might still find the former soccer star in another offside.

They say Mariga will still lose an appeal lodged against IEBC over his intentions to run for November 7 Kibra by-election.

IEBC rejected Mariga’s nomination on Tuesday, citing that he is not a registered voter, or at least, his name is not appearing in the current adopted voter register.

But advocate Omwanza Ombati says the appeal will be a waste of time should the IEBC stick to the law and provisions on matters nominations.

According to him, Mariga’s registration came barely three weeks ago and as such, the register containing his name has not been adopted in compliance with the law.

“It’s a technical case. He registered three weeks ago. His name hasn’t been adopted as a voter in compliance with the law. Adoption takes time. He will be locked out,” he says.

Further, Ombati adds, should IEBC ignore that fact, still Section 36 of the Registration Act of 2016 will have Mariga knocked out of the race.

“Assuming he gets away with that, now that his name isn’t in the register, revision needs to be done. By law, he will have to wait until November 18th to be cleared,” he added.

Another political pundit Abuga Makori says that should IEBC adopt current register (post 2017), Mariga will still be ineligible, arguing that he only registered on 26th August, days after Kibra seat was declared vacant.

“Those blaming President Uhuru Kenyatta for Mariga’s predicaments are political whimps. Assuming that IEBC adopts the current register (post 2017), the Betin boss will still be ineligible. He registered on 26th August, days after Kibra seat was declared vacant. The law is strict,” Makori posted on twitter.

Do you think Mariga will finally win the appeal against IEBC to vie for the Kibra MP seat which fell vacant following the demise of Ken Okoth?

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