IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) says it is an independent institution and cannot be swayed by anyone to grant favours.
IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati was Thursday, July 7, commenting on sentiments by Raila Odinga that there will be no election if the electoral body did not provide both the manual and electronic voter registers during the August 9 General Election.
“IEBC is an independent institution. We are not directed by any individual, authority, or institution. We are answerable only to the Constitution and the law of the land,” Chebukati said during a stakeholder meeting with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) on Thursday.
“You may be unhappy with us but as long as we’re following the law, we are not worried. We do our work without fear or favour, in accordance with the law,” said Chebukati.
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On Wednesday Odinga alleged that the printing of ballot papers had been infiltrated by some of his opponents.
"That is why we’re saying that there must be a manual register at every polling station, it is not negotiable. We’re telling the IEBC they must have a manual register along with the biometric identification of voters on that day; failure to which, there will be no election. Kama sio hivyo hakuna uchaguzi," he said.
The commission has this morning received the first batch of ballot papers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
According to Chebukati, about 22 million ballot papers have been printed for all six elective positions i.e president, governor, senator, MP, Woman Representative, and Member of County Assembly.
IEBC also says it has set aside six emergency kits per ward to act as a backup should the digital voter register not work and that the manual register is their last option.
