IEBC on spot as DCI reveal that the 3 Venezuelans arrested were targeting 10,000 polling stations in 10 counties
IEBC on spot as DCI reveals that the 3 Venezuelans arrested at JKIA were targeting 10,000 polling stations in 10 counties
On the morning of Sunday, July 24, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) made public the circumstances surrounding the arrest of three Venezuelans.
The agency named the three suspects as Venezuelan nationals Jose Gregorio Camargo Castellanos, Joel Gustavo Rodriguez Garcia, and Salvador Javier Sosa Suarez in its statement.
On July 21, 2022, when Gregorio Carmago arrived at the airport, security personnel stopped him after noticing suspicious content in his bag.
The package had 17 rolls of stickers, that were intended for use at 10,000 rolls various polling places in 10 counties.
The polling stations are Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Meru, Machakos, Murang’a, Bomet, Nyeri, Tharaka Nithi, Nyandarua and Kericho.
In a separate bag, Carmago was also found in possession of a personal laptop, a personal monitor, five flash discs, one mobile phone, and assorted personal computer accessories.
“The officers having established that the rolls were allegedly the property of IEBC of the Republic of Kenya arrested the suspect and confiscated the stated rolls and went ahead to inquire from the suspect Jose Gregorio Camargo Castellanos how he came into possession of the same.
“The suspect confessed that he was given the materials from Panama by his company M/S Smartmatic International Holding B.V,” read the statement in part explaining that the material was destined for a private office in Nairobi.
DCI questioned the absence of IEBC officials to receive the papers criticizing Wafula Chebukati, the chair of the commission, for earlier assertions that the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) had detained its employees.
Two other Venezuelans, Garcia and Suarez, arrived at JKIA to pick up Carmago during the investigations, widening the suspect’s net.
“The officers were shocked how a foreigner all the way from Venezuela, Panama, Turkey to Nairobi contracted for a very sensitive and high-level service by supposedly IEBC had nobody waiting for him and in particular to receive the sensitive confidential materials which were supposed to be in secure custody after confirmation and reception by the procuring entity,” added the statement.
Concerns over the detention of the Venezuelan IT professionals were voiced by IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati.
He explained that the three were charged with aiding the commission in deploying Kiems kits around the nation.
“The three personnel, who are employees of Smartmatic International B.V were arrested upon arrival. IEBC has a valid legal contract executed between itself and Smartmatic International B.V. for the supply, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning, support, and maintenance of the Kenya Integrated Election Management System,” Chebukati argued.
However, the DCI put the IEBC on spot noting that other staffers at IEBC had earlier disowned the three.
DCI terms Chebukati’s statement as dishonest and choreographed, challenging him to put his house in order ahead of the polls.
“We find the Chairperson. Mr. Wafula Chebukati to be insincere and dishonest by declaring people who have been disowned by his own staff as IEBC personnel. Chebukati’s statement, was well choreographed, planned and strategically crafted to raise an alarm by sensationalizing a false statement to sway the masses who are the public to believe that the police arbitrarily arrested and harassed IEBC personnel.
“It was an attempt aimed at intimidating and blackmailing security agencies and other stakeholders against playing their rightful role,” stated Kinoti.
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