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ECK to monitor polls in Mt Elgon
The Standard
Wednesday October 24, 2007
By Isaiah Lucheli and Jibril Adan
Three Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) commissioners have
expressed concern over insecurity in Mt Elgon District ahead of
the General Election.
Commissioners Jack Tumwa, Jeremiah Matagaro and Samuel arap Ngeny
had visited the district to assess the security situation ahead of
the polls.
During the visit, the commissioners, who were accompanied by the
Mt Elgon District Election Co-ordinator, Ms Loice Psenjen, toured
polling stations in Kopsiro, Banantega, Chebyuk and Emia location
where thousands of people have fled from.
"This is very worrying. Many people have fled from their homes and
this poses a big challenge to the commission," said Tumwa.
Psenjen said the commissioner approved the creation of a polling
station at Labot in Chepkitale National Reserve where over 10,000
members of the Ogiek community who fled the clashes have settled.
Tumwa, however, said that after parties carry out nominations, ECK
would meet aspirants and come up with centrally positioned mobile
units in the affected areas.
The Mt Elgon DC, Mr Mohamed Birik, assured the commissioners that
the Government would beef up security during campaigns.
Meanwhile, ECK has given an assurance that it will address
complaints over plans to move four polling stations with 30,000
voters from Kisauni constituency to Mvita.
ECK’s lawyer, Ms Jemima Keli, told Justice Joseph Nyamu that they
had received complaints from Mr Hassan Ali Joho, an aspirant for
the Kisauni seat, challenging the move.
She told the High Court that they had instructed the Government
Printer to put on hold a Kenya Gazette that was to announce the
transfer of the polling stations before the elections.
The statements were made in a case in which Joho has sued the ECK
accusing it of attempting to assist the immediate former MP, Mr
Anania Mwaboza, to win.
Joho had further claimed there was a plot to disenfranchise the
voters in the constituency since there was no time to educate them
and make changes on their elector’s cards.
Keli said ECK commissioners would deliberate on the matter and
issue a directive soon.
The case will be mentioned on Friday.
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