Repeat presidential election will go on – Wafula Chebukati

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has assured that all is now set for Thursday’s repeat presidential elections.

“Based on the numerous assurances given to the commission by various authorities and security agencies and based on the progress made by the commission, the elections will go on as scheduled, polling stations will open at 6 am (Thursday),” said Wafula Chebukati the IEBC chair.

Perhaps, what would have stalled the repeat poll hit a setback after the Supreme Court failed to raise quorum to hear the case.

However, Chebukati noted that only in cases where the election materials haven’t arrived or polls have not happened the returning officers can postpone the polls.

The IEBC further said Justice George Odunga did not quash the appointment of IEBC Returning Officers and their deputies in a case filed by Khelef Khalifa and Hassan Abdi was seeking to have their quashed, saying their appointments were not done in accordance with the law.

“Therefore without sanitizing the said process, I decline to issue the reliefs sought herein in the exercise of my discretion not based on lack of merit, but on public interest,” Odunga ruled.

The last batch of ballot papers for the repeat presidential polls arrived in the country on Tuesday evening totaling 291 total number of pallets for the 290 constituencies and the Diaspora.

The pallets contain ballot papers, KIEMs validation forms, voter registers and checklist forms among other documents.

French firm OT-MORPHO has also assured the electoral commission that the election technology for the repeat presidential polls is ready and the system is secure.

“The RTS System will be capable of transmitting the picture of the 34A and 34B forms and not the text results,” is said in a statement. “Ot-Morpho reiterates its willingness to support the IEBC in its democratic process to ensure fair, credible and transparent election in Kenya.”

Eight presidential candidates will participate in the polls: Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee Party, Cyrus Jirongo of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Ekuru Aukot of Thirdway Alliance, Abduba Dida of the Alliance for Real Change (ARC), and Independent candidates Joseph Nyagah, Michael Wainaina and Japheth Kavinga.

Raila Odinga and his Deputy Kalonzo Musyoka from the NASA withdrew their candidature calling upon his supporters to boycott the polls and instead hold protest demonstrations.

However, on Thursday, Raila urged his supporters to boycott the repeat presidential election. He said the NASA Coalition was being transformed into a resistance movement.

“From today we are transforming the NASA coalition into a resistance movement,” he declared.

The rerun of the presidential elections is being held after the court annulled the Aug. 8 results, citing “irregularities and illegalities” by the IEBC.