The IEBC official was in a dispute with Echesa who had alleged that agents affiliated with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party were locked out of the polling station.
Echesa, who is allied to the UDA party, also claimed that there could be a plot to rig the votes against their candidate, Alex Lanya.
“You were told by who? Our agents are outside the polling centre. You cannot keep our agents outside. Why are you chasing them outside?†Echesa asked the official.
A scuffle soon ensued which led to Echesa physically engaging the officer, removing his mask, and then proceeded to slap the IEBC official.
Speaking on Citizen TV, Rarieda MP Otiende Omollo called for the arrest of Echesa.
“We must take the seats that we are given by our constituents very seriously. I’m worried about the trend we’re now seeing with our leaders such as Echesa,” Omollo stated.
Kiambu Senator Paul Kimani Wamatangi echoed Omollo’s sentiments and also pointed out that IEBC should not allow politicians to be agents in polling stations to avoid such altercations in the future.
“What Echesa did is very despicable. It’s very bad for a leader to act in such a manner,” Wamatangi stated.
“He’s doing it because others have gotten away with it. If he could be arrested and jailed for at least six months, then people could take the matter very seriously,” Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua reiterated the issue.
The Matungu constituency by-elections kicked off Thursday morning with voters arriving as early as 5 am to cast their votes. 15 candidates have been fielded by the IEBC for the race among them Peter Nabulindo (Amani National Congress), Alex Lanya (United Democratic Alliance) and David Were (ODM).
Charles Kasamani (United Democratic Party), Paul Achayo (Movement for Democracy and Growth) and Faida Auma (Maendeleo (Chap Chap).
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Source: KENYAGIST.COM
