Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has announced a strategy that his team will deploy on by-election day, set for tomorrow, November 27.
In a statement on Wednesday, November 26, Khalwale who is supporting DAP-K Party candidate Seth Panyako in the Malava by-election, said the focus has shifted to ensuring a smooth and transparent voting process.
"Our supporters and people of goodwill, having run a fairly good and effective campaign, we are pleased to roll out our watertight strategy for election day," he said.
Khalwale noted that the team’s guiding principle is to defend the rights of voters, vowing resistance against any attempts to interfere with the process.
"With the whole of our minds and hearts we are defending the dignity of our people and will confront any attempts to subvert their choice," he added.
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Elsewhere, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has spoken out on alleged voter bribery in Malava ahead of the November 27 by-elections.
Speaking on Tuesday, November 25, IEBC Chair Erastus Edung Ethekon explained that the commission is aware of the videos circulating online but cannot independently authenticate them without a formal complaint and proper investigation.
He explained that there is a procedure for handling allegations of electoral malpractice and that any concerned candidate is required to lodge a complaint through the established channels before action can be taken.
"We have seen those videos circulating, and we cannot verify exactly what those videos are. There is a procedure normally for us to address such issues, and the concerned candidates can report to the Commission through the proper channels," he said.
Ethekon added that the returning officer is available to initiate investigations should an official report be submitted, adding that no complaint had been filed at the time of his statement.
"We have our returning officer on the ground; they can report these matters for investigation so that we verify and confirm. As of now, we have not yet received any formal complaint, and once we do that, then the matter will be investigated and dealt with," he added.
Ethekon appealed to all political parties and candidates involved in the by-election to adhere strictly to constitutional and legal requirements governing electoral conduct.
"I really need to call upon all the political parties and all the participating candidates to remind them of what the Constitution says; Article 81 says that our elections must be free from violence, harassment, intimidation and bribery, and therefore they shouldn't engage in such kind of acts that are prohibited by the Constitution, but also the Elections Act and the Election Offences Act. So if those allegations are indeed true after the investigations, action will be taken," he further said.
