By-elections for Garissa Senator, Bonchari and Juja MP seats set for May 18

The by-elections for Garissa Senator, Bonchari and Juja members of parliament as well as Rurii ward MCA in Nyandarua have been scheduled for May 18, 2021.

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The national polls body announced that each political party intending to participate in the by-elections is to submit the names of the persons contesting in a party primary and the date of the party primary on or before March 8.

“A public officer who intends to contest in the by-election shall resign from public office within seven (7) days of the declaration of the vacancy by the Speaker,” the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said.

In a gazette notice published on Wednesday, the IEBC further stated that names of the persons contesting in a party primary and the date of the party primary will be published within 7 days of receipt.

Bonchari MP John Oroo Oyioka dies at a hospital in Kisumu after a long illness, family says. pic.twitter.com/89xd9KGMBm

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 15, 2021

IEBC added that candidates intending to participate in the by-elections independently are expected not to have been members of any political party at least three months immediately before the date of the by-elections. They are also to submit their names and symbols that they intend to use during the by-elections for purposes of nomination of independent candidates to the Commission on or before March 8. The Commission indicated that it will publish the names and symbols of such persons at least 14 days before the nomination day.

Political parties intending to present candidates in the by-elections election are expected, after its primaries, to resolve all intra-party disputes and submit the list of persons nominated to contest in this election to the Commission on or before March 22.

“Political parties intending to present candidates in this election through direct nominations shall submit the list of persons nominated to contest in this election to the Commission on or before March 22, 2021,” the notice adds.

The days for the nomination of political party candidates and independent candidates for the by-elections will be on March 29, 2021 and March 30.

Nomination papers will be delivered by the candidates to the respective Returning Officer between 8am -1pm and between 2-4pm at the place designated by the Commission.

The campaign period is to commence on March 29 and cease on May 15: campaign time shall run from 7am to 6pm during the campaign period.

Political parties and independent candidates are expected to appoint and submit to the IEBC the names of their Constituency Elections Agents on or before May 4.

“The registration and revision of the register of voters for the said electoral areas is suspended until Monday, 31st May, 2021 (p) If the elections are contested, the poll will take place on Tuesday, 18th May, 2021,” the IEBC said.