An Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) official has been arrested by police in Machakos County for allegedly coercing a political party agent to submit signed copies of form 34A.
Onesmus Kaloki, who was the Deputy Returning Officer for Mavoko Constituency, was accused of forcefully demanding signed copies of form 34A from Maendeleo Chap Chap Party agent Winfred Mwenza.
Speaking to the press, Mr Mwenza stated that he had been receiving disturbing calls from Mavoko Constitency Returning officer Chacha Mwita and his deputy Mr Kaloki who were demanding that he submits all the forms.
The agent said Mr Kaloki had promised to give him money in exchange of the forms.
"He kept calling me demanding for the forms and when I asked him what he wanted them for, he said he lost his copies," stated Mr Mwenza.
The IEBC official was arrested at Mlolongo Police Station and is currently being probed in Machakos by a team of County Criminal Investigation officers.
“I want to confirm to you that we have the suspect, Onesmus Kaloki, who was arrested yesterday in Mlolongo by CID officers after a complaint was launched by agents of Maendeleo Chap Chap Party,” County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO), Jonah Kirui stated.
Ms Joyceline Nzeki, the Party's constituency chief agent, indicated that the suspect could be having the intentions of altering the forms 34A in anticipation of an election petition by Machakos gubernatariol candidate Wavinya Ndeti.
The County Criminal Invesigation Officer, however, dismissed these claims stating that the matter was still under investigation and an opinion could not be formed.
Mr Kirui further noted that the investigation unit may be forced to release the suspect on a police bond pending investigations.
