The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Friday announced that the by-election for Kitui West Constituency would be held on March 26, 2018.
Through a gazette notice, the electoral body disclosed that it was gearing up to hold the by-election to replace Francis Nyenze who died in December.
"Following the declaration of Vacancy in the office of the Member of National Assembly for Kitui West Constituency via a letter from the Speaker and Gazette Notice No. 12711 Vol. CXIX- No. 193 dated 27th December 2017.
"There shall be a by-election for the Member of National Assembly Kitui West Constituency on 26th March 2018," the notice read in part.
IEBC instructed all political parties to submit the names of their candidates and the date of the party primary to the commission for proper planning.
[caption caption="File image of an IEBC Official"]
[/caption]
"Each political party intending to participate in the by-election shall submit the names of the persons contesting in a party primary and the date of the party primary on or before 10th January 2018.
The Commission shall publish, in the Gazette, the names of the persons contesting in the party primary and the date of the party primary within seven (7) days of receipt of the names of the candidates," IEBC conveyed.
Furthermore, candidates intending to participate in the by-election as independent candidates shall have been members of any political party by 23rd September 2017.
"Each political party intending to participate in the elections must finalize its primaries and resolve all intraparty disputes on or before the 19th January 2018.
"Candidates intending to participate in this election as independent candidates shall submit their names and symbols that they intend to use during the by-election for purposes of Nomination of independent candidates to the Commission on or before 6th January 2018," IEBC explained.
Earlier in December, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu and Kitui Woman Representative Irene Kasalu endorsed Mrs Edith Faith Nyenze for her late husband's seat.
[caption caption="Mrs Edith Faith Nyenze (centre), widow to former Kitui West MP Francis Nyenze"]
[/caption]
Kauwi MCA Jane Mutua stated: "We all elected Mwanzia Wa Nyenze to Parliament, but who campaigned for him? It was Mama Faith and that is why I will rally behind her and ask all of you to give her that seat."
