Human Rights Agenda (Huria) has condemned pockets of violence witnessed in parts of Mombasa during the mini-election on Monday, August 29, 2022.
The lobby group’s Executive Director Yusuf Lule said the incidents were reported in Likoni, Kongowea and parts of the Mombasa Central Business District (CBD).
“Our monitors have reported pockets of violence in Likoni where groups planning to attack Timbwani police station in Likoni but it was foiled. There is also a reported incident of attacks on Alshifaa Media journalists,” Lule said while addressing Journalists at his office in Kizingo area.
The director said the situation was worrying considering that there was a heavy presence of police dispatched in Mombasa to maintain law and order.
Voter bribery in Mombasa poll
The Huria boss was concerned by voter bribery reported by 30 monitors across the county he said was worrying for democracy.
At the same time, the director said low voter turnout was highly notable across the county a situation he said was akin to mistrust of voters on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Committee (IEBC).
“According to the report from our Monitors, the voter turnout was way below 40 per cent in most polling stations by evening. We are urging voters to turn out and vote because it is your right to vote,” Lule stated.
However, the organisation noted that the commission had demonstrated a vast improvement in deployment and dispatch of material compared to how the situation was during the general elections on August 9.
“There were no delays in the starting of the exercise. Noted reshuffling of election officials from different polling stations. So far we have noted that IEBC was more orderly in most polling stations compared to August,” he added.
