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Kenya: ECK Assures Party of Free And Fair Elections
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The Nation (Nairobi)
6 June 2008
Posted to the web 6 June 2008
Lucas Barasa
Nairobi
The Electoral Commission Thursday assured ODM that the June 11 by-elections would be free and fair.
Party secretary-general Anyang' Nyong'o and spokesman Salim Lone held a two-hour meeting with ECK chairman Samuel Kivuitu to officially raise complaints on alleged plans to rig the polls.
Prof Nyong'o told journalists after the meeting at the ECK offices in Nairobi that even though Mr Kivuitu promised to ensure that the polls were free and fair, he didn't rule out "innovative" ways of rigging.
"As the chair says, there are always very innovative ways of rigging, which he himself might not know," Prof Nyong'o said and urged observers and journalists to be vigilant.
Problems
A few days ago ODM claimed that presiding officers would be used to rig the polls, especially in Kilgoris, and that there would be "problems in the distribution of ballot papers and materials".
Prof Nyong'o said the transfer of security officials was also a cause for concern in Kilgoris.
Mr Kivuitu is said to have told the party that helicopters would be used to distribute election materials in Kilgoris and that adequate security would be in place.
ECK will further provide ODM with a list of all the presiding officers in the five constituencies and 52 civic wards where the polls would be held.
Criticism
The body, which has come under heavy criticism over the handling of last year's disputed presidential election, also promised that the by-election forms would be properly filled and certified by agents before tallying of votes is done.
Prof Nyong'o, who is also the minister for Medical Services, said ECK was to hold a meeting with all the candidates vying for the Kilgoris parliamentary seat today to brief them on the polls.
Emuhaya, Ainamoi, Wajir North and Embakasi are the other constituencies where by-elections will be held.
On Wednesday, 12 foreign missions put ECK on the spot over the by-elections.
The missions said that although ECK was mandated to conduct the elections, it required urgent reforms.
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ODM and PNU are partners in the grand coalition Government formed in March, but are battling it out for the vacant parliamentary seats to bolster their strength in Parliament
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