The Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church on Thursday asked the IEBC to cancel the election scheduled for Saturday and postpone it to a different date as it falls on the Sabbath day.
In a letter to the Commission, the church asked IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati to push the election to a later date as it would bar its members from exercising their democratic right.
"Sir, the Seventh Day Adventist leadership have looked at the statement you released on Thursday evening. We want to bring to your attention that the 28th of October 2017 falls on a Saturday, which is a day of worship to over three million Adventists in Kenya.
[caption caption="File of the SDA Leadership at a past function"]
[/caption]
"This will deny them their constitutional right to vote. While we support your move to give Kenyans who did not vote another chance, we request you to do another day other than Saturday, the day of worship for SDAs," the letter read in part.
Mr Chebukati, while giving an update from the Bomas of Kenya on Thursday night, however, stated that the Commission had seven days to declare the results and could not postpone the election any further.
[caption caption="File image of IEBC Commissioners consulting"]
[/caption]
According to the IEBC boss, the Commission arrived at the date after making all considerations adding that those whose religious beliefs may hinder them from taking part in the poll ought to make sacrifices if they are interested in casting their ballot.
The move by the church comes after Chebukati announced that the commission planned to conduct elections on Saturday in counties and polling stations where voting failed to take place.
He postponed the repeat election in Migori, Homa Bay, Siaya and Kisumu Counties to Saturday since the areas were faced with security challenges.
