Gachagua Accuses IEBC Vice Chair Fahima Araphat of Malpractice in Magarini By-Elections
According to Gachagua, the alleged interference began on Friday, November 21, when Araphat “bullied, intimidated, and coerced” electoral officials involved in the by-election process
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has levelled serious allegations against Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat, accusing her of interfering with the Magarini Constituency by-elections
In a letter addressed to IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon on November 24, Gachagua claimed that Araphat unlawfully took charge of managing the polls in place of Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana, who had been assigned to oversee elections in the coastal region
According to Gachagua, the alleged interference began on Friday, November 21, when Araphat “bullied, intimidated, and coerced” electoral officials involved in the by-election process
The former Deputy President further accused the IEBC vice chair of demanding a full list and contact details of all presiding officers, after which she allegedly met Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro at a hotel in Malindi for what he described as a “bribery negotiation”
Gachagua claimed that on November 22, Governor Mung’aro allegedly handed Araphat a bribe deposit in exchange for the officers’ details, purportedly to influence the polls in favour of his preferred candidate
“It is shocking and utterly unbelievable that a commissioner of IEBC at the level of a Vice Chairperson can be involved in an extreme drive to bungle a by-election,” Gachagua wrote
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He demanded the immediate replacement of IEBC officials stationed in Magarini and urged the commission to protect its staff from what he termed harassment and intimidation by the vice chairperson
“We further demand that you restrain and restrict your rogue vice chairperson, Fahima Araphat Abdallah, from bungling the Magarini by-elections and any other elections within the territory of the Republic of Kenya,” he added
The IEBC had not issued a public response to the allegations by the time of publication
