Prof. Nyongo asks IEBC to cancel Kisumu election

Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o has urged the electoral commission to cancel the repeat presidential election set to be conducted in parts of Nyanza on Saturday (October 28), citing security concerns.

Addressing the media on Friday morning, Nyong’o lamented that the disputed presidential poll had resulted in the loss of lives and serious injuries to his county residents, hence, IEBC should not push ahead with plans to have the election conducted against the wish of some voters.

The governor said that 53 cases of police brutality had been reported in the city of Kisumu, three of them resulting in deaths.

“One university student was killed in Kombewa last night and two others were killed here in Kisumu,” Nyong’o said.

The governor added that 42 other people had been beaten up or molested by police and were nursing physical injuries.

The Seven Day Adventist (SDA) Church has also called on the electoral commission to change the date of the postponed election from Saturday to another day of the week.

“We wish to bring to your attention that this date falls on Saturday which is a day of worship to over three million Adventists in Kenya. This will deny them their constitutional right to vote. While we support your move to give the Kenyans who did not vote today another chance, we request you to do it on another day other than Saturday,” read part of the SDA statement.

Violent confrontations ensued between police and protesters who engaged security officers in running battles while protesting against the disputed election which was postponed in Kisumu, Siaya, Migori and Homa Bay.

This forced the IEBC Chairman, Wafula Chebukati, to postpone elections in the four counties to tomorrow.