IEBC Orders Nakuru MP David Gikaria to Appear Over Alleged Voter Bribery
The committee directed the lawmaker to appear in person by 1 p.m. on Monday, declining to proceed with the hearing after Gikaria sent a representative instead of attending the session himself.
Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria to appear before its Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee after he failed to honour an earlier summons over allegations of voter bribery. Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has ordered Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria to appear before its Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee after he failed to honour an earlier summons over allegations of voter bribery.
The committee directed the lawmaker to appear in person by 1 p.m. on Monday, declining to proceed with the hearing after Gikaria sent a representative instead of attending the session himself.
Gikaria’s representative, Joseph Mirima, appeared before the committee seeking more time on behalf of the MP, citing medical reasons for his absence. However, the committee found the request unsupported after he failed to produce key documents, including a letter authorising him to represent the legislator and a medical report explaining Gikaria’s absence.
Committee members questioned why Mirima had attended the hearing without the necessary documentation despite claiming that a doctor’s letter had been submitted electronically.
“The first thing we need is a letter of authorisation from the MP confirming that he sent you to represent him. You also do not have the doctor’s letter that you say supports his request to be excused,” the committee said during the proceedings.
The panel further criticised the representative for appearing unprepared, noting that he was unable to access the alleged email containing the medical documents or provide any evidence to support the request for an adjournment.
As a result, the committee declined to hear the matter in Gikaria’s absence and ordered the Nakuru Town East legislator to appear personally before the commission.
Bribery Allegations
The summons stems from allegations of voter bribery arising from remarks made by Gikaria during a political rally in Ol Kalou.
The MP publicly acknowledged distributing KSh1.2 million to members of the public during the event, stating that his team had been allocated money to share among residents across designated wards.
Following the remarks, the IEBC launched enforcement proceedings to determine whether the conduct breached the Electoral Code of Conduct and electoral laws governing campaign activities.
The commission had initially directed Gikaria to appear before the committee last week, but his failure to attend prompted the fresh summons.
Muhia Fined Over Inflammatory Remarks
In a separate decision, the Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee fined Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia KSh1.5 million after finding that she made inflammatory remarks during a political rally in Nyandarua County.
The commission also ordered Muhia to issue a public apology, warning that failure to comply with its directives could attract tougher sanctions, including disqualification from participating in future elections.
The latest actions signal the IEBC’s renewed efforts to enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The commission has maintained that all candidates and political leaders must comply with electoral laws, warning that allegations of voter bribery, hate speech and other violations will be investigated and dealt with in accordance with the law.
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