NAIROBI, Kenya- The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has opened investigations into allegations surrounding a voter registration exercise conducted at Kenyatta University.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said the commission was aware of a video circulating on social media about the exercise and was working with relevant government agencies to establish what happened.
“The Commission has taken the allegations in the clip with the seriousness they deserve,” Ethekon said.
He said arrests could be made if investigations establish that any person committed an offence during the exercise.
The IEBC explained that every eligible Kenyan citizen has a constitutional right to register as a voter and select a polling station of their choice.
It, however, clarified that voter transfer services are only available at its constituency offices across the country and are not conducted at universities or other registration outreach locations.
The commission is undertaking Continuous Voter Registration at its 290 constituency offices, Huduma Centres and the Customer Experience Centre at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi.
According to the IEBC, voter registration kits may also be deployed to strategic locations when necessary to reach eligible Kenyans.
It said the exercise at Kenyatta University was one of the targeted registration activities undertaken outside its permanent registration centres.
“Where necessary and based on operational considerations, the Commission deploys voter registration kits to strategic locations to reach out and register eligible Kenyan citizens, like what happened at Kenyatta University,” the IEBC said.
The commission also clarified that acknowledgement slips are only issued to newly registered voters.
People transferring their registration to another polling station do not receive acknowledgement slips because their personal details are already contained in the voters’ register.
The IEBC denied directing, pressuring or influencing voters to register at particular polling stations.
“The role of the IEBC is to facilitate the registration of eligible Kenyans as voters and does not direct, compel or influence voters to select a particular polling station,” Ethekon said.
The electoral body urged members of the public not to interfere with its activities as it carries out its constitutional mandate.
It also asked Kenyans to rely on information released through its official communication channels.
The commission warned against spreading misinformation that could disrupt peaceful coexistence among Kenyans.
The IEBC did not disclose the identities of the people under investigation or specify the possible offences arising from the Kenyatta University incident.
