Kakamega, Mombasa governor poll to be held on August 29

The postponed elections in Kakamega, Mombasa, and other electoral areas will be held on Monday, August 29, 2022.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson Wafula Chebukati has given the candidates four days to campaign for the seats they are running for.

“The 8 elections will be held on 29th of August 2022. As a commission, we have assured the candidates that the elections will be free, fair, and credible… We will hold the elections on Monday unless there are other suggestions from you,” said Chebukati in a meeting with the candidates contesting in the elections at Bomas of Kenya, Nairobi.

Due to mismatches, errors, and the deaths of candidates, the commission postponed elections in 2 counties, 4 constituencies, and 2 wards.  

Chebukati claimed that there were errors in the candidate photographs and names on the ballot boxes, leading to the discovery of disparities and postponement.
The areas comprise Mombasa and Kakamega counties’ gubernatorial elections, the elections for the Members of the National Assembly in Kitui Rural Constituency (Kitui County), Kacheliba (West Pokot County), Pokot South (West Pokot County) and Rongai (Nakuru County) Constituencies.

Elections for Member of County Assembly Wards in the Nairobi County of Kwa Njenga (Embakasi South) and Nyaki West (North Imenti) constituencies were also impacted.  

IEBC had formerly scheduled Tuesday, last week as the election day in the regions, but then suspended them once more citing harassment and threats allegations directed at commission staff, according to commission chairperson.

Chebukati promised that the process will be open and seamless, with all of the issues that had led to the elections’ suspension being remedied.
 

Conducting the elections will allow the commission to publish party lists, which he claimed could not be accomplished without the elections being held insisting that the above-mentioned electoral process must be finished soonest.

“These elections must take place as soon as possible because we need to move on and have finality,” Chebukati claimed.

In order to compel the IEBC to conduct the process and prevent it from holding voters and the affected areas at ransom by not electing leaders of their choice, Mombasa ODM gubernatorial candidate Abdulswamad Nassir, represented by his running mate Francis Thoya, had on Friday threatened to seek a court injunction to compel the body to conduct the process.

Cleophas Malala, Kakamega gubernatorial candidate expressed faith in the commission’s scheduled dates and asked the IEBC to utilise resources by creating awareness to voters so as to turn up in numbers for respective affected positions in their areas.

“We however want to know if there will be enough time and money for civic education. Our voters need to be informed of the date and encouraged to turn up for the exercise,” alleged Malala.

For the first time since their disagreement, all seven IEBC commissioners were present.  

Four commissioners descended just before the chairperson announced Deputy President William Ruto as the president-elect in the August 9 polls.