IEBC Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba says the violence reported in parts of Nairobi has been occasioned by a high number of voter transfers/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 29 – The Independent Boundaries Electoral Commission has now launched investigations against people perpetrating violence during the ongoing mass voter registration.
IEBC Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba says the violence reported in parts of Nairobi has been occasioned by a high number of voter transfers.
As a result, he says IEBC officials carrying out the exercise in Starehe, Mathare, Embakasi North and Ruaraka have been targeted by incumbent political leaders and aspirants.
“The Commission condemns this violence which is endangering the safety of IEBC staff and equipment, and putting the entire exercise at risk,” he said.
“We call on the Police to act expeditiously to guarantee the security of our staff and protect potential voters from intimidation.”
Chiloba went on to explain that, “The Constitution and the Elections Act, 2011, Section 5(3), allows every Kenyan citizen who has attained the age of 18 years and has a valid national identity card or passport to apply and be registered as a voter. The registration is not conditional upon any factors such as place of birth, business or residence.”
He says voters transfer is enshrined in the Constitution and warned those disrupting will be dealt with according to the law.
“Section 7 (1) of the Elections Act allows voters who wish to transfer their registration to an electoral area other than the one they registered,” he said.
“However, voters can only do so ninety days before an election, and must physically fill the transfer form at the new electoral area they intend to vote.”
Police have since warned the residents of Nairobi against engaging in violence and instead report their grievances to IEBC officials.
This was after one person was on Monday afternoon severely injured when two rival groups in Kariobangi fought over a voter registration centre.
One group according to police wanted the centre to be moved to another place while the other one insisted that it must remain at Kariobangi Social Hall.
READ: Two rival groups fight over voter registration centre in Kariobangi
Nairobi Police County Commander Japheth Koome says order has been restored and a meeting has been called by IEBC officials to address their grievances.
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