IEBC Officer Claims He Was Forced to Change Election Results at Gunpoint

An IEBC official coordinates voters at a polling station in Kenya.
An IEBC official coordinates voters at a polling station in the 2013 General Elections.
IEBC

An Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) official in the concluded August 9 General Election claimed that rowdy youth forced him to alter election results at gunpoint.

The presiding officer stationed at Ongeti Primary polling station in Kochia ward in Rangwe constituency alleged that election malpractice occurred at the gubernatorial elections in Homa Bay. 

He appeared as the first witness before Justice Roselyne Aburili at the Homa Bay High Court in the case filed by former Nairobi governor, Evans Kidero, challenging the election victory of the county boss, Gladys Wanga. 

“Immediately after counting votes, a group of rowdy youths came and switched off the lights, pointed a gun at me, and forced me to record cooked results,” he testified.

Homa Bay county gubernatorial candidate Evan Kidero.
Former Nairobi County Governor Evans Kidero at a past Press Conference.
Photo
Evans Kidero

The witness claimed that the assailants forced him to record the shambolic figures, reportedly in favour of Homa Bay governor, Gladys Wanga, and due to pressure and a morbid fear for his life, he obliged their demands.

He also alleged that after the mortifying encounter, he recorded a statement at the nearest police station.

"I went to report the incident at Rangwe Police Station and stand by my words, that the election was not fair at Ongeti primary polling station," stated the official.

The official further accused IEBC of failing to conduct a free and fair election at the voting station.

While addressing the judge, he argued that he was not afraid to differ from the election commission. He insisted that the polls were marred with irregularities

Wanga's lawyers challenged the witness, questioning his contrasting statements that alluded to the vote-counting process being conducted peacefully, alleging that he had a bias towards their client.

The defence team also argued that the witness was wrong to testify against IEBC, citing that he had taken a binding oath during recruitment.

The governor who contested on an ODM ticket won the gubernatorial race with 244,559 votes against Kidero’s 154,182, an independent candidate.

At Ongeti polling station, Wanga garnered 235 votes against Kidero's 115 votes.

Homa Bay governor-elect Gladys Wanga receiving his certificate after winning the gubernatorial election on Aug 12, 2022
Homa Bay governor-elect Gladys Wanga receiving his certificate after winning the gubernatorial election in Homa Bay on Aug 12, 2022
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