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Chebukati, Kinoti Fight Over 'Stolen' Electoral System Passwords

Collins Ogutu | 1 year ago
Chebukati, Kinoti Fight Over 'Stolen' Electoral System Passwords
Chebukati, Kinoti Fight Over 'Stolen' Electoral System Passwords

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) claims that passwords were taken by police after  a Venezuelan national contracted by the IEBC was arrested over suspicion of impropriety upon landing at the JKIA with election materials.

In the recent development the tussle between the Electoral Commission and the National Police Service appeared to take a new twist Friday evening after IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati  raised serious concerns following reports of the police demanding passwords from the foreigner.

In a statement dated July 22,  Chebukati immediate release of all confiscated items  including mobile phones, laptops and flash disks in the custody of its official who, according to the police was released on Friday.

He, added, the stickers which were earlier confiscated and announced to have been released to the commission are still in the pocession of the police making the agency unable to

seamlessly prepare for the elections.

"The National Police Service has, most importantly confiscated all electronic items including mobile phones, laptops and flash disks in the custody of the said personnel, which electronic items contain important and sensitive information relating to the forthcoming elections as well as projects undertaken by them for other countries. The said personnel were compelled to give passwords to the confiscated phones and gadgets

resulting in a violation of their right to privacy," said Chebukati.

Chebukati also claims that two other IEBC foreign Information and Technology experts are still in the custody. The commission boss now calls upon the authorities to release the duo whose names are unidentified.

"Other than the person who had been arrested at the Airport, the security officers also arrested two other personnel who had been working for the Commission and had gonet tocheck on their colleague. This brings the total number of the arrested personnel to three."

In a quick rejoinder, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti dismissed the allegations by Chebukati saying it has no such mentioned individuals in their custody.

"The Directorate hereby clarifies that no such persons have been detained; or any other person working for IEBC anywhere in the territory of the Republic of Kenya. Further, the DCI has no such office known as ‘OCS Anti Terrorism Police Unit’ in our structure," said George Kinoti.

Kinoti has termed the claims by IEBC as inaccurate and  "misleading to the public and should be treated with the contempt it deserves."

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