The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has postponement elections in various parts of the country that were initially set for August 23, 2022 over alleged harassment of staff.
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati has pushed – to a later date – eight elections, among them gubernatorial polls in Mombasa and Kakamega counties over alleged harassment of the commission’s staff in the course of executing their mandate.
“The Commission is concerned that some of its critical staff who objectively and impartially performed their duties at the National Tallying Centre are being intimidated and harassed through profiling and/or arbitrary arrests,” read part of the statement.
“This has instilled fear within the staff, who are now unable to report to the office for duty. This harassment must stop forthwith.” it added.
IEBC has also postponed elections for Member of the National Assembly in Kitui Rural Constituency (Kitui County), Kacheliba Constituency (West Pokot county), Pokot South Constituency (West Pokot county) and Rongai Constituency (Nakuru county).
Member of County Assembly Ward elections have also been postponed in Nyaki West (North Imenti Constituency – Meru county), and Kwa Njenga (Embakasi South Constituency – Nairobi county).
Chebukati, further has called for the arrest and prosecution of certain political leaders who allegedly attacked him alongside commission CEO Hussein Marjan as well as two other commissioners ahead of the much-awaited announcement of the presidential poll results on Monday.
“During the announcement of the presidential results, Chairman Wafula Chebukati, Commissioners Prof. Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu, and CS/CEO Marjan H. Marjan were physically attacked, assaulted, and injured by persons in the company of certain political leaders.
We call for the arrest and prosecution of these assailants regardless of their political affiliation. In view of the prevailing circumstances, the Commission has postponed the by-elections slated for August 23, 2022, to a date to be announced through a gazette notice,” stated the statement.