IEBC Officials In Court For Failing To Count Ballot Papers

A Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officer in Mombasa have been accused by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for wilfully and illegally failing to count ballots for Members of the National Assembly, County Assembly, and Women Representative.

On Wednesday, August 10, police officers in the Kisauni constituency detained Nicholas Nyamuya, the presiding officer, and Sawiya Kirunda, the deputy presiding officer, according to the National Prosecution Authority.

After being charged, the two entered a not guilty plea in court. On a Sh300,000 cash bail and a Sh500,000 bond, they were then freed. The subject will be discussed on August 15, according to ODPP.

A second presiding officer and polling clerk were charged with issuing two extra ballots at Mtomodoni, Shimo la Tewa Ward in Kilifi County, which is still in the Coastal area.

Anwar Kai, the presiding officer, was accused on two counts of electoral offense, according to an ODPP statement. erring in his official duties and failing to notify the appropriate authority of the occurrence.

On the other side, the Polling Clerk, Dorine Mwinzi, was charged with one offense for failing to perform her official duties.

While Kai choose not to, Mwinzi did. The two were released on a Sh300,000 cash bail and a Sh500,000 bond, and they will both appear in court on August 15.

Drama was also seen in Narok County, where three poll workers were called to testify in court. One of them was caught on camera removing four ballots for an MCA post, marking them at the polls, and attempting to save them from imprisonment.

“Parnade Parmao, Laput Francis & Nkaampa Laput appeared before Narok Chief Magistrate’s court. Court granted ODPP’s application to have time extended to allow investigators complete investigating the matter,” read a statement from ODPP.