The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has addressed allegations of voter bribery in Malava Constituency ahead of the November 27 by-elections.
This is after a video purported to be from Malava Constituency showed residents receiving money and food items from one of the candidates, sparking uproar.
DAP-K candidate in the by-election, Seth Panyako, accused President William Ruto's administration of alleged voter bribery, intimidation, and plans to rig the upcoming polls.
Addressing the press on Tuesday, November 25, Panyako claimed that a certain pro-government politician had obtained pre-marked ballot papers and was planning to use them to rig the mini-elections.
Speaking yesterday night during an interview on NTV, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon, noted that the commission had not yet received any formal complaint regarding the incident.
He insisted that the authenticity of the videos alleging bribery could not be immediately verified, and that investigations could only commence once a formal complaint is filed.
The IEBC Chairperson went ahead to urge members of the public and candidates to follow the proper legal procedures when reporting election-related offences.
"I have seen those videos circulating, and we cannot verify exactly what those videos are. There is always a procedure for us to address such issues, and we urge that the concerned candidates report to the commission through the proper channels," Ethekon said.
"We have a returning officer on the ground who can report this matter for investigations so that we can verify and confirm that indeed there were acts of bribery," he added.
During the interview, Ethekon called on political parties and candidates to follow the Constitutional provisions for fair and credible elections, warning of dire consequences for candidates who breach the electoral code of conduct.
He cited Article 81 of the Kenyan Constitution, which requires that elections be free from violence, bribery, and intimidation.
"Article 81 says that our elections must be free from violence, bribery and intimidation, and therefore they should not engage in such kinds of acts that are prohibited by the constitution," Ethekon affirmed.
