The United Democratic Movement (UDA) has refuted claims that some of the ballot papers were marked prior to the nominations exercise.
This comes after Bomet senatorial seat aspirant Wilson Sossion alleged that some ballot papers arrived at some of the polling stations in Bomet County when they had already been marked in favor of a particular candidate.
“The ballot papers have been marked in favor of a particular candidate and there is a defined line-up and team within this arrangement. It is better to suspend the nominations for a few hours or a day to ensure the process is credible,” Sosioni said.
However, in a statement posted on its official Twitter handle, Deputy President William Ruto’s party said all the ballot papers being used in the nomination exercise have special security features and hence cannot be illegally marked.
The party further said that the UDA ballot papers have unique serial numbers assigned to specific polling stations and hence cannot be scanned or photocopied.
“Ballot papers have security features, they can’t be scanned or photocopied! All ballot papers are uniquely serialized as per the assigned polling center!” the party said in a Tweet.
The outfit which is conducting the first nomination exercise since it was officially registered said it has put in place robust measures to ensure the nomination exercise is free and fair.
“UDA has put in place robust measures to ensure the nomination exercise is free, fair, credible, and democratic to ensure the final results reflect the will of the people,” the UDA party said.
On Wednesday, April 13, the party’s National Elections Board said it was ready to conduct the primaries asking party supporters to turn up in large numbers.
Addressing journalists in Nairobi, Board Chairman Anthony Mwaura said they had acquired sealed 75,000 ballot boxes that will be manned by more than 70,000 clerks who will be overseeing the exercise.
“This will be a nominations exercise like no other. It is the first nominations exercise where international observers have shown interest,” Mwaura said.