IEBC ready for Monday by-elections, says official

Written by Rosemary Wachiye, Frankline Bwire and Leonard Wamalwa. 2011-11-27 16:24:00 Read 156 Times

As the clock ticks towards the eagerly awaited Webuye West civic by-election tomorrow, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has said it is ready for the exercise. Regional IEBC officer John Matekwa has promised the residents from the ward that the exercise will be free and fair and that the exercise will kick off as scheduled without fail. All the required materials for the election, both strategic and non strategic have been acquired for a smooth running of the exercise. “We have received all the needed materials for the elections and we are ready, all that is remaining is to transport them to the polling centres as we await election to start on Monday morning,” said Matekwa. He has also assured the Webuye West ward residents that the election will be conducted in a free and fair manner based on the comprehensive training bestowed upon the polling officials from the returning officers down to the polling clerks. “The people presiding over the exercise have been trained on their responsibilities and we believe they will carry out the elections fairly as per the requirement in any election,” he said. This being the first election to be done under the IEBC Matekwa noted that it will be very effective and that the Webuye West ward residents should expect the outcome results of the elections to be announced by 7 pm in the evening of the same day. He also thanked the candidates and the residents for carrying out their campaigns which officially ended on Saturday mid night, in a peaceful way and called upon them to do the same on the day of election. Matekwa (right) warned those who will be caught carrying out campaigns in the region after the set deadline for campaign that stern action will be taken against them. “The campaigns officially end on 26th November at mid night; I want to urge all the Webuye West residents to end the campaigns as stated otherwise for those who will go against the law, a heavy penalty will be imposed upon them even if it means disqualification we are ready to do so,” warned Matekwa.  According to him the number of registered voters for the Webuye West ward are 3,011 while the polling centres expected to be used are four that is Matulo Roman Catholic (R.C), Matulo market, Matulo FYM and Khamoto Primary while Matulo Friends Secondary School would be the tallying centre. Elsewhere, as the by election of Matayos South and Odiado civic wards in Nambale and Funyula constituency respectively nears, candidates have been cautioned against involving themselves in acts of violence and bribery. The Nambale constituency election coordinator Enock Otara said that they are monitoring closely the campaign process, affirming that candidates who will be found engaging in acts that are against the election conduct will be disqualified. “We are watching keenly and so far no cases of violence have been registered. The code of conduct should be adhered to in a bid to ensure no candidate is disqualified,” said the coordinator asserting that the security team has informed all the candidates on the consequences of violence. Speaking to West FM at Matayos in Busia district earlier in the ending week, Otara said that security personnel have been deployed in the area to ensure the six registered candidates from different political parties undertake their campaigns under a condusive environment. The coordinator further revealed that 23 Presiding Officers, 21 Deputy Presiding Officers and 95 clerks have been recruited for the exercise which is scheduled to kick off from 6 am to 5 pm during the Election Day.   He disclosed that among the 16 polling stations in Matayos South ward, the area has a total of 9,185 registered voters expected to participate in the exercise set for tomorrow where the tallying centre will be at Lwanya secondary school where the victor will be announced. Among the candidates eyeing the Matayos South civic ward seat which remained vacant after the demise of Henry Manyasa a UDM candidate include Rosemary Obuyu (ODM Kenya), Lucas Wakuloba (ODM), Francis Okuku Juma (NARC Kenya), James Opaka (Labour Party of Kenya), David Wanjala (New Ford Kenya) and Joseph Odak Barasa (Ford Kenya). The electoral body has also said it is ready for the Sigoi ward by-election in Kapenguria.