Election gadgets used in the United Democratic Alliance’s (UDA’s) grassroots elections held last year were “smuggled” into the country, the party’s former Secretary General, Cleophas Malala claims.

In an exclusive interview with The Standard, the former Kakamega senator alleged that UDA did not pay import duty on electronic gadgets used in identification and voting, which he linked to a larger tax-evasion scheme.

“The situation further escalated during the procurement of the tablet gadgets used in the party’s grassroots elections. In a blatant abuse of process, the party, through a network of brokers, smuggled the iPads into the country without paying the required import duties or taxes, in direct violation of customs and revenue laws,” said Malala.