Gem Member of Parliament Jakoyo Midiwo now claims the Independent Electoral Boundaries and Commission (IEBC) participated in last year's Burundi elections which were marred by violence.
Midiwo stated that IEBC distributed at least 150 pieces of Electronic Voter Identification Device (EVID) which were used in the highly disputed polls that saw President Pierre Nkurunziza back in office for the third term.
"We have evidence that IEBC participated in the electoral process in Burundi that turned out to be one of the most chaotic electoral processes in the region in recent years. The EVID laptops were used in this exercise," Midiwo was quoted by the Standard.
According to the Opposition lawmaker, the electoral body should be investigated for donating the equipment which it had earlier told Parliament was obsolete.
"We are convinced IEBC's role in Burundi should be investigated. The commission told us they want to procure new EVID laptops because what they have is obsolete. Why would they want to donate obsolete equipment to a neighbouring country. Midiwo said.
However, IEBC Spokesperson Andrew Limo rubbished the legislator's accusations stating: "The commission donated 150 laptop-based EVID through the Kenya Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The kits were cleaned of all data and software, therefore, could not in any way interfere with the electoral process”.
Limo added that the request was made in the context of the EAC Regional Electoral Support Programme to boost Burundi in technical and human capacity.
On the other hand, Midiwo said that he would expose to Parliament how the Government was contradicting itself on the matter stating that Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Monica Juma had earlier denied assisting Burundi.
"It was just the other day when I asked Foreign Affairs PS Monica Juma which authority the ministry used and who advised them to allow IEBC to participate in a foreign election. The IEBC Act does not in any way contemplate a situation where the commission can work with other regional electoral bodies or dispose of their assets to foreign bodies. She answered in Hansard, which I will make public that Foreign Affairs cannot involve itself under any circumstance in such activity and that my information was rumours and speculation," Midiwo asserted.
Before the poll day in Burundi, dozens were killed as those opposing Nkurunziza took to the streets to protest his interest in the Presidency.
According to a report by Al Jazeera, the situation turned chaotic forcing more than 175,000 people to seek refuge in neighbouring countries.
