music_note
DCI raid suspected “Ruto office” as Kinoti and Chebukati argue over Venezuelan nationals
PHOTO: PD.CO.KE/SETH OLALE
A war of words between the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations escalated yesterday with the publication, by the latter, of a lengthy statement that accused the elections agency of misrepresenting facts, lying and laxity in the management of the upcoming General Election.
DCI boss George Kinoti’s statement was the latest in exchanges between the two agencies following the arrest and detention on Thursday of three foreigners, who were found with election kits identification stickers in their luggage just after landing on Kenyan soil.
An inspection, hours later, by senior police officers of an office in the city centre associated with Deputy President William Ruto, found workers moving electronic and internet server cabinets late in the afternoon. A worker at the site said they had been instructed to relocate the office but was tight-lipped as to where.
The Elections agency protested Thursday evening the arrest of the three Venezuelans at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport saying in a statement by chairman Wafula Chebukati that police were unduly harassing the foreigners while executing a contract by the elections agency adding that the three were employees of Smartmatic International BV, the company under contract for provision of election technology for next month’s elections.
Kinoti however disputed Chebukati’s claims yesterday, saying, the Venezuelans were neither IEBC nor Smartmatic staff, but had been in the country at the invitation of a Kenyan named Abdullahi Abdi Mohamed, the chief executive officer of Nairobi-based technology startup Seamless Technologies.
About Post Author
