Independents ask IEBC to hold poll talks with Uhuru, Raila

IEBC Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi

Independent election candidates have asked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to hold talks with presidential contenders to iron out issues surrounding the repeat poll.

The Independent Candidates' Lobby Group said the current political situation was volatile and asked Jubilee Party leader Uhuru Kenyatta and his National Super Alliance (NASA) counterpart Raila Odinga to abandon their hardline positions as their attitude could heighten political tension and an economic meltdown.

In a statement signed by Chairman Stephen Owoko, the lobby said IEBC's decision to set a date for the repeat process was ill advised as relevant players were not consulted.

"IEBC should call the stakeholders for round table talks to iron out differences and set the rules on how they feel the polls should be conducted. This is the only way they can arrest the current volatile situation that is building," said Mr Owoko.

He also accused NASA of making unrealistic demands.

"After winning the petition, NASA seems to be taking its celebrations too far by making demands that cannot be achieved within this short period... we request them to sober up."

Raila on Tuesday threatened to boycott the poll after IEBC set the date without engaging stakeholders. He said he would not participate in the election without legal and constitutional guarantees.

NASA also demanded the firing of IEBC Chief Executive Ezra Chiloba and other top managers over alleged electoral fraud perpetrated on August 8