Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission sets date for Kajiado Central

Kajiaddo, Kenya: The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced the date for the Kajiado Central constituency by-election, following the appointment of former MP, Joseph Nkaisssery to the cabinet.

IEBC has set January 29 as the date of the by-election in the Maasai dominated constituency, which voted overwhelmingly for Nkaissery in the March 2012 elections.

"The Kajiado Central constituency Member of the National Assembly elections will be held on Monday, 16 March 2015," said the IEBC statement, sent to newsrooms on Tuesday.

Nkaissery was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta to replace Joseph ole Lenku as the interior and Coo-ordination of National government Cabinet secretary. Lenku left in the wake of concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the country.

The by-election is likely to provide an acid test for the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and by extension the Coalition for reforms and Democracy (Cord) which will have it numbers in the National Assembly slashed should it lose the seat.