Ugunja MP James Opiyo Wandayi has revealed a joint plan by Jubilee and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to forcefully conduct elections in NASA strongholds on Saturday.
Through a post on social media on Friday, the NASA legislator explained that President Uhuru Kenyatta's party had teamed up with the electoral body to deploy strangers in Siaya, Kisumu, Migori and Homa Bay for the election.
"With the mass resignation of local presiding officers and clerks, now the IEBC and Jubilee plan to deploy strangers from outside to forcefully conduct their repeat election tomorrow in Siaya, Kisumu, Migori & Homa Bay," he wrote.
He urged IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati to address the issue to avoid a catastrophe tomorrow.
[caption caption="Mr Opiyo Wandayi's Tweet"]
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[caption caption="Ugunja MP James Opiyo Wandayi"]
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Earlier on Thursday, Mr Chebukati announced that he would have to declare the results of the repeat presidential election if voters did not turn up to vote in the four 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 Photo of IEBC Officials"]
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On the other hand, the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church asked 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.
"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.
Read Also: NASA Reveals Why Chebukati Postponed Elections In Four Counties
