IEBC postpones Mombasa, Kakamega Governor elections over harassment of staff
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries
Commission (IEBC) has announced a postponement of elections in various parts of
the country that were initially set for August 23, 2022.
This is according to IEBC Chairman Wafula
Chebukati who, in a statement to newsrooms on Wednesday, said the move was occasioned
by alleged harassment of the commission’s staff in the course of executing
their mandate.
Chebukati hence said IEBC has since resolved
to push - to a later date - eight elections, among them gubernatorial polls in Mombasa
and Kakamega counties.
It 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).
“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,” wrote Chebukati.
“This has instilled fear within the staff,
who are now unable to report to the office for duty. This harassment must stop
forthwith.”
Chebukati further alleged that he was,
alongside commission CEO Hussein Marjan as well as two other commissioners,
attacked ahead of the much awaited announcement of the presidential poll
results on Monday.
“During the announcement of the presidential
results, the 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,” he stated.
“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 23rd August 2022, to a date to be announced through a gazette notice."
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