IEBC responds after High Court rules that Returning Officers were appointed illegally

High court Judge George Odunga on Wednesday ruled that the gazettement of Returning Officers and their deputies by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was illegally done and violated the Elections Act.

 

The ruling comes when IEBC had concluded arrangements for the repeat poll despite the multiple cases that had been filed in different courts which had fueled uncertainty.

 

The Commission had appointed a total of 290 Returning officers and their deputies to handle the repeat election.

 

As Kenyans wait for the Supreme Court’s verdict on a petition filed on Tuesday to give clarity on the fate of the October 26 poll date.

 

The IEBC has gone to Twitter to respond, saying that the appointment of the Returning officers remains valid and that they and their deputies will still conduct the repeat presidential poll.

 

National Super Alliance flag bearer Raila Odinga pulled out of the race saying the coalition’s efforts to have their ‘irreducible minimums’ met bore no fruit.

 

President Uhuru Kenyatta criticised Raila for this move, saying that the country had already spent billions in preparation for a repeat election.

 

IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati met with both Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta on separately, but the president ruled out any meetings with the NASA presidential candidate.

 

The appointed Returning Officers and their deputies will conduct the fresh presidential election on 26th October 2017— IEBC (@IEBCKenya) October 25, 2017