With just a few days remaining until election day, IEBC has conducted training of aspirants and their chief agents ahead of the polls. The IEBC says that the training is aimed at ensuring that aspirants and their agents have an understanding of their roles and overview as per election laws.
Speaking to the media at IEBC offices on Monday, Bungoma County election Manager, Ms Grace Rono said they have involved different stakeholders ranging from the state and non-state actors, chief agents and aspirants to train them on matters related to the election and also to enable agents to act as Trainers of Trainees of the constituency and polling stations agents.
Ms Rono urged the aspirants and the political agents to promote peace at all times and follow the set rules and guidelines of IEBC and be vigilant and report any perpetrators of violence. "The agents have a right to access polling stations and tallying centres, represent their party or candidate in the election and collect and document information about the process of information but not to cause any violence," she said.
She added that they should not interfere with the voting process or the authority of the election officials in the polling stations. Ms Rono called on the agents to dispute the inclusion of a ballot paper in the count that they believe should be 'rejected' and object to the rejection of a ballot paper that they believe is, adding that they should request the presiding officer to have the vote recounted/ rechecked provided that this recount does not take place more than twice.
Aspirants were urged not to interfere or attempt to influence the voting process and the political agents to have their accreditation badge issued by the commission.
“You should not disclose the name of the voter who has or who has not applied for a ballot paper, or voted in polling stations; neither should you deliberately show nor leave a 'how to vote card', nor any similar directions as to how a voter should vote, in the polling station," she said.
The agents were taught to identify and bring to the attention of election officials any errors, irregularities and malpractices, to sign a declaration form at the end of polling and to update their Party and/or candidates on the overall conduct of the poll at the polling station they are deployed to, and report any incidents that may occur.
The aspirants present lauded the IEBC for the effort they have done by providing the training to the agents and aspirants saying that this is proof that it will conduct a free, fair, and credible election.
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