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Suspects arrested in Eastleigh for illegal voter transfer

By JOHN NJAGI February 13th, 2017 1 min read

Three people were on Sunday arrested in Eastleigh, Nairobi, over illegal transfer of voters.

Police recovered photocopies of national identity cards and voter transfer forms among other items, following a tip off by the public of illegal activities taking place at a guest lodge.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chief executive Ezra Chiloba said the suspects had been transferring voters from other areas to Mandera North constituency.

UNDUE INFLUENCE

Mr Chiloba warned politicians against undue influence of voters to transfer their voting stations, saying they should do so out of their own volition.

“…politicians are choosing voters instead of voters choosing politicians. This is not democracy and the IEBC does not anticipate it that way,” he said while speaking at Pangani police station, where the suspects aged between 22 and 28 were being held.

Mr Chiloba, who was accompanied by Starehe police boss Alice Kimeli and commission officials, said 83 photocopies of IDs were recovered and a photocopying and printing machine, 33 voter transfer forms, which had been filled, and a ledger book containing more than 500 names of people from different constituencies, who were reportedly being moved to Mandera North.

“We have established that the suspects were sourcing for transfer of voters from one point meant for Mandera North constituency,” he said.

MANAGE PRESSURE

According to the commission, transfer of voters had been centralised in constituencies to manage pressure of individuals willing to transfer their voting stations, amid concern over mass importation of voters. He called on the public to be vigilant and check abuse of the transfer widow.

Mr Chiloba said no voter registration kits were recovered from the scene.

Eastleigh residents had alleged that two voter registration machines which had been stolen in Mandera East constituency, were being used by the suspects.