The Directorate of Criminals investigations (DCI) has dismissed a statement released by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries (IEBC) regarding the release of a Smartmatic employee arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Thursday, July 21.
This comes after the electoral body stated that their IEBC personnel who were arrested were released on the condition that they appear before the OCS Anti-terrorism police unit on Tuesday, July 26.
Press Release: Harassment of Personnel and Confiscation of Items to be used by the Commission During the 9th August 2022 General Electionhttps://t.co/MJtOJ10ISq#GE2022 pic.twitter.com/KFdyANrEhI
— IEBC (@IEBCKenya) July 22, 2022
This was contrary to NPS’s statement which noted that only one person who was arrested was released from lawful custody.
“Subsequent investigations have revealed that the stickers are bona fide property of the 1EBC and part of the election-related material. Based on the above finding, the suspect has been released from lawful custody and the stickers released to IEBC,” NPS wrote.
PRESS STATEMENT
— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) July 22, 2022
THE ARREST OF A FOREIGNER WITH IEBC RELATED MATERIALS pic.twitter.com/Lm4FMvr9Cb
In a statement DCI rubbished the press release by the electoral body terming it as inaccurate and misleading.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations takes with great exception, today’s statement dated July, 22, 2022, issued by the Chairman of the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Wafula Chebukati, to the effect that three IEBC officials have been detained by ‘OCS ATPU‘,
“The Directorate hereby clarifies that no such persons have been detained; or any other person working for IEBC anywhere in the territory of the Republic of Kenya.” DCI wrote.
‘OCS Anti Terrorism Police Unit’ in our structure.
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) July 22, 2022
The statement issued by the IEBC Chairman is not only inaccurate, but also misleading to the public and should be treated with the contempt it deserves.
The Kinoti-led agency further denied that the OCS ATPU unit exists.
“Further, the DCI has no such office known as ‘OCS Anti Terrorism Police Unit’ in our structure. The statement issued by the IEBC Chairman is not only inaccurate, but also misleading to the public and should be treated with the contempt it deserves,” DCI added.
