Embakasi polling clerk in ‘rejected ballot’ stamp to be charged
The polling clerk who stamped ballot papers as rejected in Embakasi South Constituency, Nairobi, will be prosecuted, the IEBC announced on Tuesday.
The clerk was fired after voters who noticed the anomaly started accusing IEBC of pre-poll rigging. Some voters posted online the ballot papers stamped “IEBC Rejected” at the back.
IEBC said the affected ballots would not be termed as invalid since “rejected ballot papers are stamped in the front and not the back,” giving voters who had cast the said ballots some relief.
This was not the only incident involving polling staff as IEBC also disclosed that there were “isolated cases” where clerks were not completing the validation of voters once identified using the Kiems kits.
“We have instructed our returning officers to ensure that this is done and urge agents to confirm that this process is completed,” IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said.
PRE-MARKED BALLOT PAPERS
However, the commission denied claims that some pre-marked ballot papers had surfaced at Mariakani Ward in Kilifi County as well as Sabatia Constituency, Vihiga County.
IEBC said the indelible ink had “accidentally spilt on the paper” causing the incident in Sabatia.
Meanwhile, voters in at least 300 polling stations were allowed to vote after 5 pm following delays caused by logistical challenges.
The polling centres in Ndia and Nakuru East constituencies did not receive the ballot papers on time following a mix-up.
Three polling stations in Laikipia North were delayed by insecurity.
