Natembeya Raises Alarm Over Mass Voter Bribery

A photo of George Natembeya addresses journalists on destruction in the Mau Forest Complex in his office in Nakuru on September 13, 2019.
George Natembeya addresses journalists on destruction in the Mau Forest Complex in his office in Nakuru on September 13, 2019.
Daily Nation

Trans Nzoia gubernatorial aspirant, George Natembeya, has called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to investigate cases of mass voter bribery.

Speaking on Saturday, April 9, the former Rift Valley Regional Commissioner alleged that some aspirants were buying national identification cards from prospective voters for as low as Ksh1,000.

Natembeya alleged that the scheme being orchestrated by some politicians is meant to influence the outcomes of the nominations and the August 9 polls.

An undated photo of former Rif Valley Regional Commissioner, George Natembeya.
An undated photo of former Rift Valley Regional Commissioner, George Natembeya.
Twitter

The gubernatorial hopeful alleged that the politicians were deceiving unsuspecting voters that the ID card is not a requirement for one to cast their ballot in the August polls.

"They have been moving from one household to another buying ID cards. Each is bought at Ksh1,000 and the victims are told that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will provide a separate card that will be used during voting," he alleged.

Natembeya asked the residents of Trans Nzoia to be wary of the group seeking to 'buy' their democratic right. He further called on law-enforcement agencies to be vigilant and bring the offenders to book.

"What I would like to tell the people is that your ID is what you will use to vote come August 9, and not any other card. We want to ask those charged with the responsibility of managing the elections to do their job," he reiterated.

Echoing the words of his former boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta, the former regional boss called for political tolerance in the country with the election just four months away. Natembeya opined that politics is not a matter of life and death.

His comments come amid pressure piled on IEBC to guarantee free, fair and credible elections in the August vote.

The Wafula Chebukati-led commission faces a challenge in taming the tongues of politicians who have poked holes at its credibility, citing the August 2017 poll. The most recent claims were made Gatundu South Member of Parliament, Moses Kuria, who alleged that they manipulated the polls in favour of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Kuria, alongside Murang'a Woman Representative Sabina Chege, appeared before the IEBC Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee.

On Friday, April 8, Chebukati and his team forwarded the Kuria and Chege cases to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Noordin Haji, after the court ruled that IEBC lacks powers to summon politicians.

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IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati addresses the media at a press conference in August 2021
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