The independent electoral and boundaries commission has postponed elections in different parts of the country.
A statement by the IEBC chairman on sunday, declared that five wards countrywide, will have to conduct their elections on a later date.
One of the reasons why an elections can be suspended, is death of a candidate. According to the law, it is mandatory for the Independent electoral and boundaries commission to postpone an elections if a candidate dies.
Some of the wards that will be affected are;South Gem Ward in Siaya County, Kyome/Thaana in Kitui County, Oloimasani Ward in Narok County, Mumias North in Kakamega and Utawala Ward in Nairobi County.
The independent electoral and boundaries commission issued a statement saying, “IEBC suspends the election in the five wards owing to the death of candidates listed, and we shall communicate vide a Gazette Notice when the said elections will be conducted.”
Mumias north ward in Kakamega county was affected because of the death of Abdalla Kweyu who was involved in road accident.
In South Gem ward in Siaya county, Nick Otieno Wanga also passed on. The deceased was a Member of county assembly candidate under the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
Michael Mwathi Gitonga also didn’t make it to the elections due to his untimely death. The deceased was an MCA candidate in Utawala ward at Nairobi County.
Due to the above circumstances, residents from the mentioned wards will vote for the other 5 balloted seats which include the president, Governor, Women representative, Member of parliament and the senator.
- According to the chair of the independent electoral and boundaries commission, Wafula Chebukati, if there’s nothing that can be done during the election it will require a postponement.
He said,”When it becomes impossible for us to perform our functions, we postpone the election for that specific area.”