National Police Service Spokesman Bruno Shioso has responded to the arrest of three employees of Smartmatic International B.V. procured by the IEBC.
Shioso has said that the 3 foreigners were arrested with sensitive election materials because they were transported as personal effects.
According to Bruno Shioso, the commission did not explain why it laid down procedures for transporting sensitive material or cargo were not followed, even though the poll agency is an independent commission.
“The foreigners were arrested because IEBC did not declare the materials and no official from the commission accompanied them,” he said.
Adding:
“We are talking about election materials not any other luggage or cargo.”
Yesterday, July 21, IEBC’s Wafula Chebukati announced the arrest, terming it as “unjustified intimidation, harassment and blackmail”, as he demanded their immediate release.
He further warned that their further detention could interfere with preparations for the polls which are 17 days away.
“The three personnel, who are employees of Smartmatic International B.V., were arrested upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from Venezuela. This is despite the Commission Secretary/CEO explaining to the security authorities that the three personnel were in the country to execute a lawful contract relating to the deployment of technology in elections,” said Chebukati in a statement issued on Thursday night.
Chebukati said IEBC has a legal contract with Smartmatic International B.V, the firm contracted to supply technology materials for the August 9 election and does not understand why police detained its officials.
Smartmatic International B.V was contracted to supply, deliver, install, test, commission, support and maintain the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits which will be deployed in the election.
