Police in Muminji ward have arrested area chief Isaac Ireri after residents discovered more than one thousand genuine pre-marked ballot papers hidden inside the boot of his official government vehicle on Wednesday night, just 48 hours before the Mbeere North by-election.
Eyewitnesses said the drama unfolded around 9 pm when a group of youth on night patrol spotted the chief’s Toyota pickup parked behind Muminji Primary School, far from his usual route.
Upon approaching, they noticed several sealed Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kit boxes and bundles of ballot papers being offloaded into a private store.
When challenged, Chief Ireri allegedly attempted to speed off, but villagers blocked the narrow path with logs and motorbikes.
A quick inspection revealed 1,200 ballot papers already marked in favour of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Geoffrey Wamuthende for the Member of Parliament position.
The papers bore official IEBC security features, serial numbers, and watermarks, confirming they were authentic materials meant for Thursday’s voting.
Area residents recorded the entire incident on their phones, with videos showing furious locals forcing open the vehicle while the chief pleaded for calm.
One clip clearly captures bundles neatly ticked next to Wamuthende’s name and symbol before being stuffed into gunny bags.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials in Mbeere North expressed shock at the discovery.
Poll officials told journalists that all ballot papers were accounted for during distribution to polling stations earlier on Wednesday afternoon under heavy security.
“We are now auditing every serial number to determine if these are extras printed illegally or part of the official consignment,” the official said. Opposition candidates stormed the tallying centre, demanding immediate cancellation of the entire exercise.
“This is daylight robbery. A whole chief caught red-handed with pre-marked ballots favouring the government candidate proves the election is already stolen,” a candidate declared amid cheers from supporters.
UDA officials distanced the party from the incident, with the campaign coordinator describing the arrest as a plot to tarnish Wamuthende’s growing popularity.
“Our candidate is leading in all polls. There is no need to cheat. We demand a transparent investigation,” the coordinator said. National Cohesion and Integration Commission officers have since sealed off the Muminji chief’s office pending forensic examination.
Over 78,000 voters were expected to cast their ballots across 186 polling stations. Long queues are still being witnessed across the country, but many residents now say they fear their votes will not count.
As security remains heightened across the constituency, the fate of tomorrow’s results hangs in the balance pending the outcome of investigations into how over one thousand votes were allegedly prepared in advance for the UDA candidate.
