By S, KNA
Tension is building up in Mbeere North Constituency ahead of the upcoming by-election following allegations that IEBC was planning to use the 2017 voter register that will ostensibly lockout thousands of newly registered voters.
This was after the opposition led by former National Assembly Speaker and Democratic Party, Leader Justin Muturi, accused the electoral body of attempting to manipulate the by-election through the poll register that may dent the credibility of the election.
Speaking during a voter hunting mission at Ciangera Market for joint opposition candidate Newton Karish, Muturi said the move will deny thousands who registered as voters their right to vote, and cautioned the electoral body against attempting to subvert the will of the people.
He warned that IEBC will be held accountable if voters arrive at their polling stations and find their names missing, saying the move would amount to deliberate voter suppression.
“We are cautioning IEBC Commissioners, returning and presiding officers that they will be personally held liable if voters find their names missing from the register,” he said.
He questioned why the IEBC would allegedly use an old register instead of the current one, saying it was part of a wider scheme of locking out the young people who are the majority of potential in the forthcoming mini-poll.
Meanwhile, Duncan Mbui who is vying for the seat on Chama Cha Kazi (CCK) Party has denied claims by his opponents that he was a state project with the aim of dividing the opposition vote.
This follows allegations that CCK whose party leader is former CS, Moses Kuria, was in government, which Mbui said was being peddled by the opposition to discredit him.
He said the opposition had sensed defeat hence resulting in a smear campaign which he said won’t distract him since his performance track record as Evurore Ward MCA was excellent.