The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has reversed its decision to dismiss a court order that directed it to extend the nationwide voter registration exercise by a week.
On Tuesday, November 2, IEBC stated that the exercise would continue until further advised, pending a determination of the matter by another court. This was after IEBC moved to challenge the order that directed it to extend the exercise.
The hearing of IEBC’s appeal was scheduled for Wednesday, October 3, at 8am, upon which the polls body will know whether to end the mass voter listing as scheduled or not.
“The prohibition was ordered to subsist until November, 9, when the case will be heard inter parties.
“The Commission properly advised on the legal and operational ramifications of the court order, moved to court today (Tuesday, November 2) to challenge the order,” IEBC tweeted.
Hours prior, the Wafula Chebukati-led commission announced that it had ended the month-long voter listing exercise.
Vice Chairperson, Juliana Cherera, noted that they were financially constrained and unable to carry out extra duties.
IEBC responded to an Eldoret High Court which issued extension orders pending the determination of a case filed by a voter from Uasin Gishu County.
According to Chairperson Wafula Chebukati, IEBC needed an extra Ksh1.3 billion to audit the voter register and other expenses. He stated that they had exhausted the Ksh1.2 billion they received from the Treasury.
The money was less than the Ksh4 billion they had earlier on requested through Parliament.
“After November 2, we will not have money to extend the voter registration exercise. The commission can only afford to conduct mass registration for 30 days,” Chebukati complained.
