The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has fined Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia Ksh1.5 million over inflammatory remarks she allegedly made during a recent rally in Nyandarua County.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The IEBC's Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee also ordered Muhia to issue a public apology and warned that failure to comply with its directives could see her barred from participating in future elections.

"The committee has established that the respondent has violated paragraph 6A. The complaint has been proved on the balance of probabilities, being the standard applicable to these quasi-judicial proceedings," the committee ruled.

Speaking on Friday, July 10, IEBC Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana said the decision was based on the submissions by the parties, the applicable law, and both oral and documentary evidence presented during the proceedings.

📌 What You Need to Know

As part of its orders, the committee issued a formal warning directing Muhia to refrain from making similar remarks in the future, saying her statements were capable of inciting Kenyans to violence, intimidation, hatred, and hostility.

While issuing the orders, the Committee directed the vocal lawmaker to pay the fine to the IEBC within 72 hours of the delivery of the judgment.

The committee further cautioned that failure to comply with its orders would attract additional sanctions under the Elections Act, including the possibility of being barred from participating in any elections conducted by the IEBC.

"Failure to comply with the orders issued herein shall attract sanctions as provided for under the Elections Act, including issuing an order barring her from participating in any elections conducted by IEBC," Commissioner Mukhwana stated.

During the briefing, Mukhwana also announced that the Commission had summoned Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria to answer allegations of breaching the Electoral Code of Conduct during the ongoing Ol Kalou by-election campaigns.

This is after Gikaria openly admitted to distributing Ksh1.2 million to crowds during a political rally in Ol Kalou, stating that his team was allocated money to share within designated wards in the area.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke