Turkana: The Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Erastus Ethekon, has issued a warning to politicians about the consequences of employing goons to attack their rivals.
According to Kenya News Agency, during a recent visit to Turkana County, Ethekon highlighted the potential disqualification for those found guilty of such actions. He pointed to instances of election violence observed during recent by-elections, specifically mentioning Kasipul, where offenders faced fines of Sh1 million. Ethekon emphasized the Commission’s commitment to strictly enforcing the election code of conduct.
Ethekon stated, ‘There is no way a person is looking for a job as they cause pain to innocent people. Look for a job by talking to the voters, but do not use chaos.’ His remarks underline the Commission’s stance against election-related violence and misconduct.
The Commission’s Vice Chairperson, Fahima Araphat, praised Turkana County residents for their active participation in the ongoing voter registration exercise. She acknowledged their efforts in contributing to the high registration numbers compared to other counties.
In a related development, Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus appealed to the IEBC to extend the current mass voter registration exercise by two additional weeks. He expressed concern that many pastoralists from Turkana, currently seeking water and pasture for their livestock outside the county, might miss the registration opportunity.
The IEBC team also paid a courtesy visit to the County Commissioner and participated in a stakeholder meeting at Moi Gardens Lodwar, further engaging with local leaders and residents about the electoral process and upcoming elections.
