Drama at Bomas as verification of presidential results begins

Observers and party agents comparing notes at Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s desk at the Bomas of Kenya, the National tallying Center on August 11, 2022. Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation

Tempers flared at the Bomas of Kenya national tallying centre on Thursday as the electoral commission began the verification of presidential results.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials struggled to maintain order after the United Democratic Alliance claimed that unauthorised forms 34A were being sneaked in.

Agents of presidential candidate William Ruto clashed with electoral officials over the suspicious forms, creating a ruckus that was only defused with the intervention of IEBC commissioners.

Led by UDA Secretary-General Veronica Maina, they threatened to walk out of the process of receiving and collating forms 34A and 34B. Ms Maina engaged the poll body’s officials at the quality assurance desk before other UDA agents joined in for at least 10 minutes.

Presidential agents will be allowed at all the desks to witness the presentation of the forms and the authentication process. Mr Chebukati said they expect all ROs to submit their forms today. “They have started arriving and we hope to conclude the process as soon as possible because the collating of results in the constituencies is complete,” he said.

Mr Chebukati also waded into the different results being displayed by various media houses, saying they will all be similar at the end. “There should be no panic on the results seen in the media. At the end of the day, they will be the same since they are from the same source,” he said.

The number of allies of the two leading presidential candidates has increased at Bomas as the nation awaits results.

Among the new faces who joined their colleagues yesterday from UDA were Dr Ruto’s presidential agent Josphat Nanok, former Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, former Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba, and Eliud Owalo.

They joined Ms Maina, Gladys Shollei, Soipan Tuya and Wilson Sossion who have been camping at Bomas since Tuesday. In Azimio, the new faces are the coalition’s executive director Raphael Tuju, head of presidential campaigns Nderitu Muriithi, former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu and ODM chairman John Mbadi.

They joined Azimio Mr Odinga’s chief agent Saitabao ole Kanchory, his deputy Dr Carole Karugu, and Prof Isaiah Kindiki. More activities are expected at Bomas as more ROs deliver their forms.

About The Author

Prince Mathias

See author's posts