The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati has stated that the commission will suspend elections in areas with pending court cases on the clearance of candidates seeking elective seats in the August polls.
Chebukati was speaking at a meeting between the Commission, candidates, National Integration and Cohesion Commission and Mkenya Daima organization on Saturday.
The IEBC boss further assured the electorates that the independent electoral body will deliver on the elections within the required timeframe.
He urged the Judiciary for speedy decision on the particular pending cases lest the affected candidates will be locked out of the exercise that is a month away.
“I want to urge the Judiciary to finalise them (court cases). If for any reason they are not finalised in good time, then as a Commission we cannot wait forever. We shall be forced to suspend elections in those areas where decisions affect the printing of ballot papers.”
Areas with notable pending cases are Nairobi and Mombasa as the clock ticks away. Former Nairobi City County Governor Gideon Mbuvi (Sonko) is not cleared to run for Mombasa governorship seat.
Sonko was barred from contesting in Mombasa gubernatorial race on the grounds of integrity issues after he was impeached as the Nairobi City County boss by the members of county assembly.
Chebukati went ahead to caution vying candidates against profiling the IEBC staff and linking them to tribalism.
“Candidates, please don’t focus on profiling IEBC staff and Commission. IEBC staff come from all the counties and constituencies. Our Returning Officers represent the face of Kenya. They belong to each and every tribe in this country. We employ people based on their counties and constituencies. The word tribalism does not exist in IEBC.”
