Court gives 10 days for parties to identify Homa Bay candidates

Justice George Odunga

NAIROBI: The High Court has granted political parties 10 more days to conduct nominations for the Homa Bay senatorial by-election.

This quashes an earlier directive by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that the exercise be done by Friday.

In a ruling by Justice George Odunga, IEBC will have to wait for 10 more day to close the doors for receiving names contestants for the seat left vacant by the death of Otieno Kajwang’.

“The respondent (IEBC) ought to have given the party reasonable time for nominations as it has done in the past,” said Odunga.

The judge noted the polls’ body had not indicated what losses it would incur if it allowed more time for parties to settle nomination issues.

The nominations for the Homa Bay seat by Orange Democratic Movement were stopped on Monday after youths destroyed ballot boxes. ODM blamed IEBC for the botched exercise, saying the commission had not provided enough time for the process to be properly done.

The party had written to the agency to extend the exercise by two weeks but IEBC insisted the parties ought to have submitted the names of candidates by tomorrow.

At the same time, aspirants for the Homa Bay Senate seat are waiting with bated breath to see who will be given the ODM ticket after the party opted for direct nomination to pick the flag bearer.

The party’s National Elections Board (NEB) made the decision due to the limited time given by IEBC and its chairperson Judy Pareno informed them.

“She said the board would rank the candidates based on earlier interviews and qualifications and recommend two names to the National Executive Council to confirm,” said Kenneth Kambona, an aspirant.

Efforts by The Standard to reach Ms Pareno and other board members failed, as sources revealed they were ina retreat to deliberate on the matter.

Silas Jakakimba, another aspirant admitted he received a call from the board. Most aspirants opposed the idea of backing a single candidate at a retreat held on Tuesday. Only two aspirants were ready to step down in favour of others.

“The decision of the party was that we agree as candidates so that we can unlock the stalemate, and that is why I was ready to support another aspirant,” Kambona said.

“This might not be a fair process. We just want one of us to be elected directly by delegates,” said Caroli Omondi who opposed the decision.