CHEBUKATI ISSUES WAY FORWARD ON DIDMUS BARASA CASE

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Wafula Chebukati has made a comment on the murder case that is facing Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa and the commission’s way forward.

Barasa is on the run and is believed to have sought refuge in Uganda after shooting Brian Olunga, an aide of his DAP-K opponent, Brian Khaemba.

According to the Bungoma county police officers, the lawmaker was spotted on a motorbike crossing over to the country.

Barasa shot Olunga on his forehead at Chebukwabi polling center at around 6.00pm on Tuesday just when the vote counting exercise was taking place.

In the normal briefs about the ongoing tallying exercise at the Bomas of Kenya, Chebukati was forced to speak on the issue, now that Barasa was one of those who vied in the just concluded polls and was also at the polling center to witness the counting of results.

According to Chebukati, IEBC has no powers to stop the vote counting process in the affected constituency and the winner will be announced just as expected by the officers in charge.

He noted that his commission will only take the next step about the issue once investigations are concluded by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Director of Public Prosecution.

“I have read the reports in the media. Counting will go on, winners will be declared. Matters of murder are criminal and it is a matter for the police and I believe the law will take its course.

“Officers who are on the ground will be witnesses. Until the individual is convicted, the Commission will not come in,” Chebukati said.

Story courtesy.