IEBC Sets Dates for Cancelled Kakamega & Mombasa Elections

From left: Former IEBC Commissioners Juliana Cherera, Commissioner Abdi Guliye and Chairman Wafula Chebukati at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday, August 8, 2022
From left: Former IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera, Ex-Commissioner Abdi Guliye and Ex-Chairman Wafula Chebukati at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday, August 8, 2022.
Kenyans.co.ke

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced that the Mombasa and Kakamega Counties gubernatorial elections will be held on Tuesday, August 23.

On Tuesday, August 9, IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati, through a statement, revealed that the dates set were in compliance with an order issued by a court he declined to disclose.

Chebukati stated that the commission would also conduct elections in six other areas where elections were cancelled.

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta casting her vote at St Mary's School in Lavington, Nairobi County.
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta casting her vote at St Mary's School in Lavington, Nairobi County.
PSCU

"The commission has resolved to hold by-elections for gubernatorial positions in Mombasa and Kakamega Counties in two weeks due to court orders," the statement read in part.

Other by-elections will be conducted in Kitui Rural, Kacheliba, Rongai and Pokot South constituencies and, Nyaki Wet and Kwa Njenga wards.

Notably, the suspended elections in Eldas constituency will take place on Wednesday, August 10. Voting in the constituency was suspended after gunmen attacked a tallying centre in Wajir, Monday, August 8 evening.

The IEBC boss noted that his commissioners did not want to keep the people in the elective areas waiting for long. He further expounded that the new dates would be economical.

"It will be cost-effective since the same equipment and personnel will be deployed with minimum training," Chebukati noted.

The commission cancelled the gubernatorial polls due to mismatching information on the printed ballot papers while in Rongai there was a mix-up in the MP ballot papers with those of Kuresoi South.

Questioned on the how the outcome of the Eldas would affect the timelines of the announcement of the presidential vote, commissioner Francis Wanderi insisted that it would not.

"It will not affect our timelines in terms of our presidential announcement. If it is done by the end of the day, they will be able to tally and transmit results. The original copies will be airlifted to Bomas for the national tally," he explained.

Wanderi further poured cold water on claims that there was a dismal voter turnout in the General Election. He stated that as of 4p.m, the voter turn out was at 56.1 per cent - a figure he was confident would increase.

IEBC commissioner Francis Wanderi during an interview on Citizen TV on Monday April 11, 2022
IEBC commissioner Francis Wanderi during an interview on Citizen TV on Monday, April 11, 2022
Citizen TV
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