Police in Kisii County have arrested several people over claims of voter bribery in the ongoing Bonchari Constituency by-election.
Speaking to the press at Nyamiobo Primary School Polling Station in Riana Ward, Kisii County, Nyanza Regional Police Commander, Karanja Muiruri, could not estimate the number of those arrested and added that the money allegedly used for bribing voters since Monday night and Tuesday morning is in police custody.
“People should not worry about the presence of heavy police officers because it is their role to ensure security and peaceful elections,” he added.
Mr Muiruri also said the National Police Service is investigating claims by ODM Party agent for Nyamiobo Primary School Polling Station, Ms Nerea Aketch, that Jubilee Party’s candidate, Zebedeo Opore’s agents were bribing voters in the morning.
Low voter turnout was experienced at Nyamare Polling Station in the same Ward where queues were empty by 11 am, prompting ODM candidate, Pavel Oimeke, to urge them to come out and vote.
Earlier on, UDA candidate, Teresa Bitutu, casted her vote at Suneka Primary School polling station in Kisii South Sub-county while Opore casted his vote at Nyamiobo Primary School Polling Station.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is expected to close all polling stations and voting exercise at 5pm before the start of vote counting process.
By Erastus Michieka
