The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has suspended political campaigns in Marsabit County following chaos that broke out on Wednesday.
IEBC's Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee has given the directive ahead of the final ruling on charges brought against the incumbent Marsabit Governor Ukur Kanacho Yattani (Frontier Alliance Party) and Jubilee's Mohamud Mohamed Ali alias Abshiro.
The commission summoned the two following chaos that erupted just after President Uhuru Kenyatta concluded a rally in Marsabit Town.
Read More: IEBC Takes Action After Shooting Incident at Uhuru's Rally
Three victims were reportedly shot as police struggled to disperse rival groups of the two Marsabit gubernatorial candidates.
Read More: 3 Shot During Uhuru's Rally
Speaking soon after the committee gave the directive, Governor Yattani alluded to ethnic differences as the factor that caused the rival groups to fight.
“In the four years I have been Governor, knowing the challenges we have had in our historical background, we have always preached peaceful co-existence and to a great extent we have succeeded.
“We should not allow campaigns which will be a few months event to destroy what we have built over the time,” he urged.
The Governor added that he and his challenger had held a joint press conference on Thursday calling for peace in the region.
He added that they also met with the various stakeholders such as the Returning Officer and the region’s security personnel who all agreed with the call for peace.
“This is a normal process and our supporters should stay peaceful as they have always done,” he reiterated.
The IEBC will deliver a final verdict on the matter on Monday July 31.
