IG Mutyambai On Smartmatic BV Official's Arrest
Inspector General the Police Hillary Mutyambai has defended the arrest of the Venezuelan national at the Jomo Kenyatta International airport on Thursday.
The foreigner was arrested after police suspected him of impropriety upon landing at the JKIA with IEBC material in what is termed as personal luggage.
IG Mutyambai blames the incident on miscommunication by the independent electoral and boundaries commission.
He says the foreigners were picked up by authorities for possessing undeclared election stickers in personal luggage.
Further, he explains that the stickers were not accompanied by an IEBC official as per routine procedure to provide necessary security and escort.
According to the IG boss, regarding the sensitivity of election material, they ought to have been notified of the importation of election-related material beforehand to provide necessary security and escort.
He said that after investigations they ascertained that the materials are bona fide property of IEBC and election-related.
“Subsequent investigations have revealed that the stickers were bona fide property of the IEBC and part of the election-related material', read a police statement.
Therefore, the suspects have been released from lawful custody, and the material was released to the electoral agency.
The commission had earlier condemned the security for the incident and termed it unjustified intimidation, harassment, and blackmail.
Smartmatic won the electoral commission tender to provide technology for Kenya's general election set for August 9, 2022.
Tags: Iebc Arrest Of Venezuelan Nationals Ig Mutyambai National Police
