The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has suspended by-elections at Msambweni Constituency and others in Kilifi, Kisumu, Taita Taveta and Kiambu counties.
IEBC released a press statement on Wednesday, April 1 to confirm the postponement of the five by-elections that were on their calendar.
A section of the statement provided reasons for the postponement of the by-elections, "The commission notes the presidential directive issued on 15th and 25th March 2020 aimed at containing the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
"The president, among other pronouncements, spelt out a raft of measures that included, but not limited to, suspension of social gatherings, maintaining social distance and indeed a nationwide 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew.
"The purport thereof is that all citizens with the exception of those in the critical and essential services, which have been elsewhere defined, remain indoors during the curfew times," the commission added.
The by-elections affected are Dabaso Ward in Kilifi County, Kisumu North Ward in Kisumu County, Kahawa Wendani Ward in Kiambu County and Wundanyi/Mbale Ward in Taita Taveta.
The by-elections were set to be held in order for voters in the respective wards to elect their MCAs.
Another by-election that is set to be affected is in Msambweni Constituency in Kwale County to elect the Member of Parliament.
This is the area MP Suleiman Dori passed on at Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa on Monday, March 9.
The document further went on to state that meetings, nominations, campaigns and polls would have all involved human activities hence making it process impossible.
The new dates for the elections will be announced when the Coronavirus Pandemic grinds to a halt.
