Electoral body says officials in Othaya poll to stay

By NDERITU GICHURE

Othaya, Kenya: Preparations for the Othaya by-election are in top gear even as the electoral body says it will not replace its officials who took part in the poll last year.

The candidates start presenting their nominations today, and the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) will be seeking nearly 500 electoral officials to conduct the April 29 election.

IEBC Upper Central Coordinator Patrick Odame, however, told The Standard they were not intending to remove or replace its officials as demanded by a cross-section of politician from the area.

He said most of the staff who participated in last year’s election were temporal and only returning officers are employed on a permanent basis.

Bungled election

“We are not prepared to transfer the returning officer because the commission does not dance to the tune of politicians,” Odame said.

Democratic Party (DP) flag bearer Peter King’ara last month called for the overhaul of the area’s electoral team, saying they were responsible for last year’s bungled election.

He singled out the returning officer for blame, claiming his conduct during last year’s election was wanting.

King’ara, who successfully petitioned the election of Othaya MP Mary Wambui at the Court of Appeal on February 13, had said he would submit a list of all senior electoral officials who he said must be replaced.

King’ara had indicated he is prepared to go to court if the electoral body does not heed his calls to have them transferred, saying they favoured one of the candidates.