IEBC boss: Why we could delay polls in some areas

IEBC Chairman IEBC Wafula Chebukati. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission chairman Wafula Chebukati has said that if pressed by decisions of the court, the commission will be forced to make hard decisions in order to deliver the August election as scheduled.

The elections agency boss said that while court decisions at this time have many implications to the commission’s timeline, the commission will be guided by law.

Speaking in Nairobi after signing an MoU with media stakeholders on co-operation on delivering credible elections, Mr Chebukati said the commission will respect the orders of the Judiciary as long as they don’t affect the IEBC’s operations.

He warned that some court rulings delivered when printing of ballot papers is going on will affect their operations.

“Court decisions coming late will affect our work as printing is already going on. We need to re-print the ballot papers, which wastes most of our time. And also there are cost implications,” he said.

The IEBC boss said that a decision by former Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko to file an appeal before the East African Court of Justice could have negative implications.

“These are court orders to be observed and if they throw us out of balance, we shall make some hard decisions and postpone elections in the affected areas until after the General Election of August 9.”

Mr Chebukati also said the commission is yet to be served with a court order concerning gospel artist Reuben Kigame’s application to determine whether he will be in the presidential race.

This after High Court Judge Anthony Mrima found that Mr Kigame had been treated unfairly by the IEBC based on his disability. “We have just heard yesterday’s (Monday) ruling in the media and our legal team will be meeting today (yesterday) and advise us accordingly.”