Africa-Press – Kenya. IEBC has responded to Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga saying Monday’s governor elections will be conducted by gazetted poll officials.
In a statement on its twitter handle, the commission said governor elections in Mombasa and Kakamega counties will be held by its Presiding officers.
“Gubernatorial elections are run by gazetted Returning Officers as provided for by the law. For avoidance of doubt, Returning Officers for Mombasa and Kakamega counties are Ibrahim Swalhah Yusuf and Joseph Ayatta, respectively,” IEBC said.
Raila on Wednesday called on IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati to disqualify himself from overseeing the polls on grounds that he is unfit for office.
The ODM leader said the polls should instead be handled by IEBC vice chairperson Juliana Cherera.
“The Commission wishes to inform the public that the statements made today by Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga with regard to the role of the Chairman in the two Gubernatorial elections scheduled for Monday 29th August 2022 are misleading,” IEBC said.
Ordinarily, governor elections are overseen by presiding officers.
Chebukati, as IEBC chairman, is mandated with overseeing presidential elections in his capacity as the national presiding officer.
Raila has moved to the Supreme Court to dispute President-elect William Ruto’s win at the August 9 general election.
The ODM leader accuses Chebukati of declaring Ruto winner of the presidential contest based on falsified results.
Speaking early Wednesday in Mombasa, Raila said Chebukati has lost the moral authority to oversee any election in the country.
“Yeye hata haoni haya anasema ati uchaguzi ya Mombasa na Kakamega iendelee kama yeye yuko hapo,” Raila said.
(He’s not even ashamed, he is saying the Mombasa and Kakamega elections will go on with him in charge)
“Bwana Chebukati kama mshtakiwa adisqualify himself (Chebukati as an accused person should disqualify himself),” Raila said.
For More News And Analysis About Kenya Follow Africa-Press
