IEBC sets by-election dates for Bungoma, Lamu counties

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU

NAIROBI, KENYA: Voters in Lamu county and LungaLunga constituency will go to mini polls on December 2 to elect their governor and MPs respectively while the Bungoma senatorial contest will be held on December 19.

The by election for Nyaribari Chache and Bomachoge Borabu will also be conducted on the December 19, according to the electoral body.

“The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) wishes to inform members of the public that Lamu County Gubernatorial and Lungalunga Constituency Parliamentary by-elections will be held on Monday, 2nd December, 2013,” A statement from the commission read.

“By-elections for the Bungoma County Senator, Bomachoge Borabu and Nyaribari Chache Member of National Assembly will be conducted on Thursday, 19th December, 2013. On the same date, polls will also be held in 11 County Assembly Wards.”

The County and Constituency Seats fell vacant following successful election petitions in which the courts nullified a total of 19 elections. The nullified elections include those of two (2) Governors (Siaya and Lamu Counties), one (1) Senator (Bungoma County), six (6) Members of the National Assembly (Matungulu, Kibwezi West, Bomachoge Borabu, Nyaribari Chache, Bonchari and Lungalunga Constituencies) and nine (9) County Assembly Ward Representatives.  A petition challenging the nomination of two persons with disabilities to the Senate was also allowed.

A total of 184 petitions were filed in the courts of which 24 were challenging the elections of various Governors, 13 for Senators, 71 for MPs, nine (9) for County Women Representatives and 67 County Assembly Representatives. All petitions were concluded on October 7.

A total of 1,881 Parliamentary and County elective seats were contested countrywide in the March 4, 2013 General Elections and the petitions were challenging only 173 posts. The successful petitions represent less than one percentage of the total number of elections conducted in the General Elections.