Azimio One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has asked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chair Wafula Chebukati to disqualify himself from monitoring the Mombasa and Kakamega elections.
Speaking in Mombasa, Odinga stated that the polls should instead be handled by IEBC vice chairperson Juliana Cherera.
“He’s not even ashamed, he is saying the Mombasa and Kakamega elections will go on with him in charge (yeye hata haoni haya anasema ati uchaguzi ya Mombasa na Kakamega iendelee kama yeye yuko hapo),” Raila said.
After being postponed twice, governor elections in Mombasa and Kakamega are set to take place on Monday next week.
“The Commission wishes to inform the public that the statements made today by Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga with regard to the role of the Chairman in the two Gubernatorial elections scheduled for Monday 29th August 2022 are misleading,” IEBC said.
There will also be elections in four constituencies and two wards.
Raila stated that Chebukati is now a suspect as a result of the court applications filed to contest the outcome of the August 9 general election.
Odinga was meeting with Mombasa grass-roots leaders before going on a meet-the-people tour with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to campaign for ODM Mombasa gubernatorial candidate Abdulswamad Nassir
IEBC responded to Odinga stating that Monday’s governor elections will be conducted by gazetted poll officials.
Through a statement on its twitter handle, the commission said governor elections in Mombasa and Kakamega counties will be held by its Presiding officers.
“Gubernatorial elections are run by gazetted Returning Officers as provided for by the law. For avoidance of doubt, Returning Officers for Mombasa and Kakamega counties are Ibrahim Swalhah Yusuf and Joseph Ayatta, respectively,” IEBC said.