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Malindi: All set for Tuesday polls as allegations of rigging emerge

Malindi: All set for Tuesday polls as allegations of rigging emerge
Malindi Deputy County Commissioner Thuo Ngugi addressing journalists in his office. PHOTO/Merceline Tumaini
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The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and security officials in Malindi on Sunday, August 7 expressed confidence that the election set for Tuesday, August 9 will go on without any hitches.

Malindi Returning Officer Mwanajuma Ali said that they have received the tools and equipment required for the polls including ballot boxes and papers.

“We have received all the materials required, that includes the boxes, ballot papers, and all the strategic and none strategic materials and they are all in our tallying centre. For now, everything is complete, ” Mwanajuma said.

Mwanajuma also added that the security sector is already set for the task and assured Malindi residents of a peaceful voting exercise.

“The security personnel is already set for the day and they include the DPOs, the POs, and all the officers accompanying the DPOs and the POs have been deployed ahead the August 9 so that we can vote peacefully,” Mwanajuma added.

Malindi constituency Returning Officer Mwanajuma Ali addressed the media at Barani Secondary School. PHOTO/Merceline Tumaini

Malindi Deputy County Commissioner speaks

Malindi Deputy County Commissioner Thuo Ngigi also said that his team is ready and two police officers will be stationed in each of the 161 polling centres in the constituency.

“We have planned everything and we are very ready for the forthcoming election.

“We had a series of meetings with my security team and other stakeholders. We have enough officers.

“I have a team of 400 officers including 40 GSUs who will be patrolling. Each polling centre will have two armed officers,” Thuo said.

On the contrary, politicians from competing sides have, however, raised questions regarding the preparedness of IEBC and an alleged voter rigging scheme in Kilifi County.

They claim that IEBC stray ballot boxes are currently in the hands of people who do not work with the electoral body including more than ten boxes for the governor position that have been marked and in the custody of non-IEBC staff.

“In Kilifi, ballot boxes have been found somewhere without ballot papers and they have the IEBC label. We are wondering how they are in the hands of non-IEBC officials,” Steward Madzayo, the ODM senator aspirant said.

The Pamoja African Alliance governor aspirant George Kithi urged the IEBC to be very careful so that there can be no rigging during the elections.

“IEBC should be very careful. This time around, we do not want our votes stolen. We want justice.

“Do not make us think about other things. Practice justice to those who vote. We know our leaders. They are here and we have mentioned them. We must be given the leaders that we will elect,” Kithi said.

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