US-based Kenyan Professor Makau Mutua has faulted the new date IEBC has set for the repeat presidential election.
According to Prof. Mutua, the repeat election should be held on November 1st and not October 26 as IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati announced on Thursday.
The lawyer argues that the poll body ought not to be in a rush to conduct the fresh election but should make use of the entire 60-day period allowed for in the Constitution and as was directed by the Supreme Court.
With the Supreme Court having nullified the August election on September 1st, the IEBC has until November 1st to prepare and have the election conducted.
"Poll date must be November 1, not October 26, as Chebukati has announced. Every day, hour, minute, and second is needed for a credible poll," the Professor urged in his tweet.
The tweet received mixed reactions as his followers agreed with him while others disproved his argument.
In a statement released on Thursday, the IEBC Chairman noted that the fresh poll will be held on Thursday, 26th October 2017. Interestingly, this date coincides with President Uhuru Kenyatta's birthday - he will be turning 56.
The IEBC cited the full Supreme Court decision released yesterday as the main reason for the review of the election date.
"There is no doubt that the judgement impacts on the election operations and in particular technology to be deployed.
"In order to ensure that the Commission is fully prepared to deliver an election that meets the standards set out by the Supreme Court. We wish to notify the public and all stakeholders that the fresh presidential election shall now be held on Thursday, 26th October 2017," the statement read in part.
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