The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has fined Kasipul by-election candidates Boyd Were and Philip Aroko Ksh1 million each following the recent violence witnessed in the constituency during campaigns.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, November 19, IEBC's Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee, chaired by Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana, ordered the two candidates to pay the fine within 48 hours or face further disciplinary action.
In the presser, IEBC warned that should any of the two candidates repeat any electoral offences as witnessed during the political campaigns in the constituency, then they would be barred from participating in the polls.
"Mr Philip Aroko for the violation is hereby condemned to pay a fine of Ksh1 million to IEBC within 48 hours of these hours, and similarly, Mr Boyd Were is also condemned to pay Ksh1 million to IEBC within 48 hours of these orders," Mukhwana said.
"A most stern warning is hereby issued to both candidates that should any violation of the electoral code be repeated by any of them, this committee will consider all penalties under the law, including their disqualification," he added.
Besides fining the two candidates, the Committee also directed all the candidates for the Kasipul Constituency by-election to strictly abide by the harmonised campaign schedule, which was agreed upon in the presence of all candidates.
IEBC also revealed that it had received intelligence reports linking the Homa Bay County Government to repeated interference in the Kasipul by-election campaigns.
The Commission criticised Governor Gladys Wanga's administration, accusing it of allegedly misusing public resources to meddle in the Kasipul political affairs contrary to the law.
"This committee condemns the use of public resources and involvement of public officers in political campaigns, as this is in contravention of Section 14 of the Elections Offences Act," IEBC affirmed.
The latest update by IEBC comes against the backdrop of the recent violence witnessed in the Opondo area of Kasipul constituency, which resulted in the death of two people and the destruction of property.
Several people also sustained injuries as the ODM party candidate Boyd Were's campaign team clashed with Independent candidate Philip Aroko's side.
The incident resulted in the summoning of the two candidates by IEBC in a disciplinary meeting convened on Monday, November 17, to hear the complaints arising from the much-anticipated by-elections scheduled for November 27, this year.
