IEBC to deploy plain-clothes, uniformed police in select by-election areas
IEBC to deploy plain-clothes, uniformed police in select by-election areas
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has confirmed that heightened security measures will be in place across constituencies and wards set to hold by-elections on Thursday, November 27.
Speaking to the media, IEBC Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana noted growing tempers in some of areas, prompting the deployment of both uniformed and plain-clothes officers to ensure order during and after voting.
He explained that the competitive nature of the mini-polls has already led to disagreements, adding that the commission’s security plan covers critical hotspots.
“There are competitions going on, so of course there will be misunderstandings and tempers will rise; they have already risen. You will hear several things, but in terms of security, the arrangements we have put in place across all these 22 areas ensure that there is high-level security.
“There will be officers in uniform and additional ones who will not be in uniform, and we are confident that everything will be safe,” he said.
Notably, this comes days after Aroko and Were were each fined Ksh1 million by IEBC after being found responsible for violence that broke out during campaigns ahead of the constituency’s by-election.
The ruling, issued on Wednesday, November 19, followed a hearing before the IEBC Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee, which examined submissions from both candidates before delivering its verdict.
In its statement, the committee detailed the specific breaches committed, noting that both candidates had violated several key provisions of the Electoral Code of Conduct.
“Upon keenly listening to the parties and considering all the facts and law, it is the committee’s finding that the two candidates in this matter are responsible for the violence witnessed in Kasipul constituency.
“Our finding as the committee therefore is that in the context of both oral and written submissions of the parties, the committee finds that both candidates are in violations of Paragraph 6 (q), (b), (c), (e), (i), (k), (m), and (n) of the electoral code of conduct,” the committee said.
Before issuing penalties, the committee reminded the candidates that order and fairness in campaigns depend on adherence to the rules and schedules they commit to.
It cautioned both men to strictly follow the joint campaign timetable agreed upon in early October.
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“The committee hereby orders that a stern and formal warning be and is hereby issued to Philip Aroko and Boyd Were Ong’ondo, to respect and obey IEBC’s harmonized campaign schedule as agreed upon by all candidates on 10 October 2025 without any deviation whatsoever,” the committee added.
The panel then announced the fines, each amounting to Ksh1 million, payable within two days of the ruling.
“Philip Aroko, for the violation, is hereby condemned to pay a fine of Ksh1 million to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission within 48 hours of these orders.
“Boyd Were Ong’ondo is condemned similarly for the violation to pay a fine of Ksh1 million to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission within 48 hours of these orders,” the committee directed.
The committee warned that any repeat offences would attract more severe consequences, including potential disqualification from the upcoming by-election.
“A most stern warning be and is hereby issued to both candidates, that should any violation of the letter of the court be repeated by any of them, this committee will consider all penalties under the law, including their disqualification from participating in the November 2017 elections altogether,” the committee further said.
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