Presidential Aspirant Peter Gichira Arrested After Attempting to Commit Suicide at IEBC Offices

Police were on Saturday forced to intervene and arrest an Independent presidential aspirant, Peter Solomon Gichira, after he allegedly tried to commit suicide at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices in Nairobi.

According to witnesses, Mr Gichira attempted suicide by jumping off the sixth floor of IEBC offices after the commission told him he would not be cleared to present his papers and run as an independent candidate for the presidential seat.

Drama allegedly started after Gichira arrived at the IEBC offices seeking clarification on the list of those who had been cleared but was informed that he was not among them.

Gichira is said to have immediately sought audience with the IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati who directed him to the secretariat offices.

He apparently became violent and pushed a window open then tried to jump out before security guards grabbed him.

Nairobi police boss Japheth Koome confirmed the incident stating that Gichira was arrested and locked up in police cells at the Central Police station.

Koome said that the aspirant would be charged with causing a disturbance, destruction of property and attempting to commit suicide.

“He broke a window and tried to jump from the sixth floor of the building after he was informed he would not be cleared to present his papers for the presidency as an independent candidate. He would be in court on Monday,” highlighted Koome.

In a new twist, however, Gichira’s campaign manager and lawyer while speaking to a local daily denied the claims and accused the commission of punishing the candidate after he challenged rules set on independent candidates in relation to the presidential seat at the High Court.

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