Raila Condemns Abuse of Police Powers in the Juja and Bonchari By-Elections

ODM leader Raila Odinga has decried the abuse of police powers in Tuesday’s Juja and Bonchari parliamentary by-elections.

Odinga termed what was witnessed in the two by-elections as an arrogant display of impunity by a few “overzealous and bellicose government functionaries.” 

“An election process is an opportunity for the voters to express their will at the ballot and not an avenue to pursue IMAGINARY and SHORT-LEGGED political interests,” Odinga said in a statement.

He added that security forces exist to serve the people and not the interests of those out to conduct political experiments.

“The peaceful co-existence post-2018 must NOT be taken for granted by some rogue elements wanting to confuse the HANDSHAKE for an excuse to ERODE our hard-earned liberties! This must STOP!,” he concluded.

ODM candidate Pavel Oimeke was declared the winner of the hotly contested Bonchari by-election.

He garnered 8,049 votes ahead of Zebedeo Opore of Jubilee (7,279 votes), and United Democratic Alliance’s (UDA) Teresa Bitutu, who got 6,964 votes.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) suspended the counting of votes for the Juja by-election after chaos broke out at Mang’u tallying centre.

This was after Jubilee Party representatives led by Kiambu Governor James Nyoro alleged rigging.

Tallying resumed on Wednesday morning with IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati calling for action against the perpetrators of the chaos.