The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson, Wafula Chebukati has called for a meeting on Monday, August 22, at the Bomas of Kenya, with all candidates affected by the suspension of gubernatorial and parliamentary elections.
Media reports indicated that the meeting will seek to iron out issues pertaining to the postponement of the by-elections.
The by-elections, which affected Kakamega, Mombasa, Kitui, Kacheliba, Pokot South, and Rongai in Nakuru, were to be held on Tuesday, August 23 but were subsequently postponed indefinitely.
Upon receiving the summon, various candidates weighed in on the matter, with some opting to seek legal redress as opposed to honour the meeting. Others, however, affirmed their attendance, noting that they would put to task the electoral commission over the by-elections saga.
"I am going to listen since I am deeply concerned and would like to interrogate some of the issues directly as to why the elections have been postponed for the second time."
"Circumstances on the 9th were fairly understandable but postponing August 23 is one that I take issue with. He ought to step forward and conduct the elections, "United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Mombasa Gubernatorial candidate, Hassan Omar, stated.
On the other hand, his rival, Orange Democratic Movement's Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, intimated that the elections should be held by the initial August 23, date without further delay.
"After serious deliberations, our insistence, meeting or no meeting, is that elections should be held. It is not clear which commissioner is calling us for this meeting," Abdulswamad stated.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission had filed a petition in court, arguing that the electoral body lacked powers to postpone elections without involving the judicial system.
The Human rights body alleged that the reasons given by Chebukati weren't enough to warrant such an action- essentially denying the residents of the affected counties an opportunity to exercise their rights.
The anxiety ensued after Chebukati postponed the gubernatorial elections by-elections in Kakamega and Mombasa, as well as parliamentary elections in Kitui, Kacheliba, Pokot South, and Rongai in Nakuru on August 8, 2022. This was due to a mix-up in the printing of ballot papers.
Further, the commission called off the elections indefinitely following the harassment and persecution of IEBC officials.
