The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has summoned two contestants in the Ganda County Assembly by-election following deadly violence that occurred two days before the poll.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, IEBC noted that in response to the incident, it had summoned Independent candidate Abdul Omar Mohammed and ODM candidate Reuben Katana Mwamure to record statements.
The fracas occurred in the home of Mr. Katana after Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa stormed an alleged meeting between Katana and ODM agents.
Jumwa was enraged by the meeting because the campaign period for the by-election, slated for October 17, has already elapsed.
Katana’s uncle, Ngumbalo Jola, was shot in the violence that ensued and died upon arrival the Malindi Hospital.
It has not yet been established who shot the deceased.
Jumwa has since been arrested, presented in court, and remanded for 14 days.
In the Wednesday statement, IEBC further confirmed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had launched investigations into the Tuesday night incident.
“The Commission does not condone any acts of lawlessness that can subvert the course of a free and fair election and will not hesitate to take appropriate action against any perpetrators,” IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati said in the statement.
“The Commission wishes to thank the security agencies for their quick action to contain the situation and urges them to fast track the investigations and bring to book the perpetrators,” he added.
Chebukati further assured Ganda voters of adequate security during tomorrow’s poll.
“The security agencies have assured the Commission of adequate security during the by-election. We therefore urge voters to come out in large numbers to exercise their democratic right,” Chebukati said, adding that the election should free of any external influence.