IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati on Thursday night announced that he will have to declare the results of the repeat presidential election if voters do not turn up to vote in Migori, Homa Bay Siaya and Kisumu counties where the election was postponed.
Addressing the nation from Bomas of Kenya, the IEBC boss noted that the Constitution required the Commission to declare the results seven days after the election is held and as such, if voters boycott the poll, he will be forced to declare the results as they are.
"Those who do not want to vote will not be forced. It was our decision to give them another chance but if a similar situation is witnessed on Saturday the Commission will sit down and agree on the next step.
"However, we cannot keep pushing this chance, we have to declare the election by the seventh day," he stated.
The Commission chair explained that the electoral agency arrived at this decision after conclusive deliberations adding that those whose religious belief would affect them from voting should sacrifice and exercise their democratic right.
[caption caption="File image of IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati and other IEBC officials"]
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Regarding the voter turnout, Chebukati announced that the turn-out for the repeat presidential poll was estimated to be at 48 percent with the actual figure still being worked on.
On Thursday, Chebukati postponed the repeat election in the four counties to Saturday October 28, 2017.
The IEBC chair announced that the election had been postponed because the areas were faced with security challenges.
In Kisumu, one person was reported dead and several others injured after a section of Opposition supporters clashed with police officers.
Migori County had one person shot and another injured by the anti-riot police following attempts to block polling stations. The victim was taken to Migori Hospital for treatment.
[caption caption="File image of a polling station entrance blocked by Opposition supporters"]
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In Homa Bay, there was not much activity as youth blocked polling stations while IEBC officials failed to show up at their duty stations.
Siaya County was among the worst hit as polling officials boycotted the exercise due to fear of victimization.
