IEBC could suspend elections in areas with nomination disputes

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has warned that it might suspend elections in areas where nomination conflicts have not yet been resolved.

Speaking today at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) the electoral agency chairman, Wafula Chebukati, said if the conflicts are not finalised, they cannot wait forever.

“We cannot wait indefinitely if it is not finalized. Elections will have to be postponed in those places where decisions must be made, which will have an impact on the printing of ballots. On August 9, we have to hold an election,” he said.

“If for any reason they are not finalized in good time then as a commission we cannot wait forever. We shall be forced to suspend the elections in those areas where decisions are made that affect the printing of ballot papers,” he added.

The head of the IEBC claims that 321 nomination-related challenges have so far been resolved, while 31 have been brought before the High Court.

The High Court will next week issue its verdict on the inclusion of Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja’s name on ballot papers.

A petitioner named Dennis Wahome requested that the court order the electoral body to stop printing ballots for Nairobi until the issue was heard and decided.

Former governor of Nairobi Mike Sonko, will find out on July 15 whether or not his name will be on the ballot for the Mombasa governor election.

Olga Sewe, Ann Ong’injo, and Stephen Githinji, a three-judge panel considering Sonko’s case against the IEBC, withdrew to draft their decision.

The IEBC chair confirmed that the media would be permitted to conduct tallying and live presentations of results in relation to media coverage of the polls.

“Media will access polling centres and stations. The results are not a preserve of the commission, the media will be at liberty to have their own tally. The media should take their space and keep Kenyans up to speed with the results like in America,” he said.