International Crisis Group (ICG) has advised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to petition the Supreme Court to delay the October 26 election.
The crisis prevention group recommended that IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati should seek guidance from the Supreme Court and postpone the election with 30 to 45 days which will be in line with the Constitution.
They further suggested that if the repeat poll will be delayed, all parties should contest the new vote, accept the outcome or pursue complaints through the courts.
[caption caption="IEBC Chairman Chebukati and CEO Chiloba"]
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In a statement to newsrooms, the body expressed their worry over threats to provoke a serious political crisis if the repeat presidential election will be conducted.
“The risk of deadly clashes between the two main parties’ supporters, or between security forces and groups seeking to block the vote, is high. Proceeding under current conditions would deepen Kenya’s ethnic cleavages and prolong a stalemate that has already claimed dozens of lives and come at a high economic cost,” the statement read in part.
More than two months since Kenyans first went to the polls, the ICG further advised that Kenyan institutions and political leaders consider a short delay with a written pledge from Odinga to participate.
“Kenyan institutions and political leaders should consider a short delay; Odinga, in turn, should pledge to take part; business elites, as well as Kenya's neighbors and donors, should help promote such an outcome,” continued the statement.
The Crisis Group further blamed politicians for interfering with the preparation of the fresh poll. They further stated that the sole blame was not on the politicians alone but also the lawsuits filed that are bearing on the fresh election.
More than 10 petitions have been filed since the nullification of the August 8 presidential election.
“Court cases filed by politicians and others and the rulings on those cases may have had a bearing on preparations for the new vote. The 11 October High Court judgement, for example, ruled that all eight candidates in the 8 August vote – not just Kenyatta and Odinga as initially planned – could contest the fresh election,” the statement concluded.
Their statement comes a day after envoys from 20 countries raised the alarm about the deteriorating political environment.
Led by US Ambassador Robert Godec, the diplomats affirmed that if the electoral commission felt it was not ready for Thursday's poll, it should ask the courts for a delay stating that they would support the decision.
[caption caption="US Ambassador Robert Godec and IEBC Chairman Mr Chebukati"]
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