There was panic at the Interim Independent Electoral commission offices after suspected arsonists torched its stores in Ogembo town, Kisii hours to the polling day.

Suspected arsonists stormed into the premises after cutting through the fence and lit a fire in the store room.

District elections coordinator James Moseti said that about 80 presidential ballot boxes, which were used in South Mugirango constituency but which were still at the store, were burnt to ashes.

However, materials for the by-election slated for Thursday were still intact in the lorries that had ferried them to the district for distribution to polling centres.

Mr Moseti termed the act politically motivated.

He, however, confirmed that they had not offloaded materials that had arrived for Bomachoge by-election from the lorries that had transported them.

Reacting to the incident Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Lands Minister James Orengo called on the IIEC to assure voters of the security arrangements ahead of the Bomachoge and Shinyalu by-elections.

“Our area of concern is that arsonists can get into IIEC offices,” Mr Mudavadi told the press in Kisumu on Wednesday on his way to Shinyalu where he was going to monitor the voting on behalf of ODM.

“As a party our view is that this is a very serious matter and IIEC should make a statement to assure voters that the security is going to be guaranteed.”

Mr Orengo urged the IIEC to be vigilant and take care of the electoral materials before and after the elections.

He called for action to be taken against IIEC officials responsible for the incident and the provincial administration.

“This burning is totally inexcusable. Heads should roll both in IIEC and the police, who should be called to explain the security lapse,” Mr Orengo said.

Accounts from officers revealed that one of the presiding officers from Shinyalu, who had spent the night in the IIEC office noticed smoke billowing from the store.

The officer notified security officers in the premises who summoned help from their mates.

Area DC Asha Kiiva led the district security team to put off the fire and later held an emergency security meeting to discuss the incident.

Gucha OCPD Richard Ng’etich confirmed the incident and said the officers on duty were being interrogated.

A three-litre jerrican of paraffin and a burnt piece of mattress were recovered from the scene.