Caught in the act: ECK official tampering with Voter Register

ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga has written to the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) demanding an explanation on alleged tampering with the voter register.

In a complaint to the ECK, Mr Odinga said he had received “credible information” that a group of six individuals – four from Central Province, one from Western and one from Coast – under the supervision of an ECK officer, were tampering with the voter register at ECK headquarters. He claimed two Administration Police officers are on guard 24 hours as this was taking place.

“They are operating under a strongroom located on the 13th or 14th floor of Anniversary Towers, the ECK headquarters. The are replacing names of voters in some constituencies with new names and even using those of the deceased,” said Mr Odinga at a Press conference held at Serena Hotel on Thursday.

He said the group was altering the voter register both electronically and manually.

He said Lang’ata and Sabatia constituencies were among those being targeted in a complex plan to rig him out, along with his running mate Mr Musalia Mudavadi. Mr Odinga claimed another group had gone to the AG’s chambers and picked names of the dead which were used to replace the names of living voters in Lang’ata, Sabatia and Mvita.

“The teams have also been transferring people from regions where Kibaki would have no problems (in winning) to areas where he is doing badly,” he added.

At the same time, he took issue with President Kibaki’s failure to consult other political parties when he replaced five ECK commissioners whose terms had expired. Mr Odinga accused President Kibaki of reneging on the Inter Parties Parliamentary Group agreement formulated during the Kanu regime in which he (Kibaki) was party to.