Home Tags Posts tagged with "IEBC"
Tag:

IEBC

Politics

IEBC Postpones All Elections

by Muthoni Kamande
written by Muthoni Kamande

Wafula Chebukati-led Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has postponed all the upcoming by-elections.

This follows the coronavirus pandemic that has continued to affect the economy of the country.

In a press release issued on Wednesday evening, the electoral agency noted that the pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges towards delivering of its mandate.

It further noted that its day to day operations have been greatly affected.

The commission was set to conduct by-elections in Dabaso ward (Kilifi County), Kahawa Wendani Ward (Kiambu County), Kisumu North ward (Kisumu County), Wundanyi/Mbale ward (Taita Taveta County) and Msambweni Constituency for a parliamentary seat that was left vacant following the demise of MP Suleiman Dori.

The elections have also been postponed to avoid public gatherings that would be witnessed during campaigns and nominations.

The government has hence banned public gatherings as a measure of stopping the spread of COVID-19.

A later date will be announced by the commission for each of the by-elections that were to be held.

Image
0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail
Politics

Tangatanga Senator Tears Into IEBC After Saying Igathe Still Nairobi Deputy Governor

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Tanga Tanga senator has tore into Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after the commission said Polycarp Igathe is still Nairobi’s Deputy Governor.

The electoral agency on Thursday said it is not aware the the former governor Mike Sonko’s deputy resigned from the county job.

According to IEBC, Igathe’s resignation letter never reached them.

Igathe was elected to the position of Deputy Governor Nairobi City County in the 2017 general elections on the Jubilee political party ticket, as Mike Sonko’s running mate.

He resigned abruptly on 12 January 2018, citing lack of trust from his boss.

Image

Kericho senator Aaron Cheruiyot has tore into the Wafula Chebukati led commission for saying that Igathe never resigned.

The Same @IEBCKenya that recently cleared a nominee to be vetted by Nairobi CA for Dep Gov now says that as per their records Igathe is still DG .Anybody still denying that Bangi na Uchawi imetulemea huku Kenya ?” the lawmaker posted on twitter.

“Dear Nairobians, it is with a heavy heart that I resign my seat as elected Deputy Governor of Nairobi City County effective 1pm on 31st Jan 2018.

“I regret I have failed to earn the trust of the Governor to enable me to drive Admin & Management of the county. Without fear, favour or ill will I step down to avoid abusing or betraying my oath of office to Kenyans, Nairobians and my family. Thank you for the encouraging support given to me so far,” he said in a post on his Twitter account.

The statement by IEBC that Igathe never resigned has caused an uproar, with some politicians question the integrity of the commission.

Last month, the electoral commission cleared Anne Kananu Mwenda to be vetted by Nairobi County Assembly for the DG job.

This has made several Kenyans to question the integrity of the electoral agency, with some speculating that there must be something cooking.

Some argue that there is a plot to get Igathe back to City hall to take over as city boss.

Image

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail
Politics

IEBC issues stern warning to Kibra voters as voting process continues

by Nathan Sialah
written by Nathan Sialah

The Independent and Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has warned voters in the on going Kibra Constituency by-election against sharing pictures of marked Ballot papers on social media.

In a statement posted on its Twitter account, the electoral body has warned those to be violating the directive of dire consequences.

The commission asked voters to adhere to secrecy of Ballot violation stating that it is an electoral offense punishable by law.

The warning came after various pictures of marked Ballot papers were making rounds on social media on Thursday morning, hours after opening of the polling stations. 

Two people have so far been arrested by the police since the mini-polls started in the morning for voter bribery allegations, the Chebukati led commission stated.

Voters began polling on early Thursday morning to vote for a new Member of parliament to succeed the late Ken Okoth. The polling stations opened on 6 am and is expected to close at 6pm.

ODM is trying to defend the seat through its candidate the brother to the late Ken, Imran Okoth while Jubilee on the other hand fielded veteran footballer McDonald Mariga.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail
Politics

IEBC validates petition to suspend Taita Taveta County

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has validated the petition to suspend Taita Taveta County government.

This is after the electoral agency confirmed that the petition meets the required legal threshold of Section 123(2) of the County Government Act of 2012.

The electoral body verified that the petition presented to IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati last month is supported by 21, 861 registered voters of Taita Taveta.

Taita Taveta governor Granton Samboja in July signed a memorandum to initiate the petition, a move he termed necessary after longstanding wrangles between the executive and the county assembly culminated into an impasse over the county’s budget.

Mr Samboja said the wrangles had adversely affected development in the county and called for its dissolution to end the tussle after attempts to initiate dialogue between both factions failed.

ODM leader Raila Odinga, Council of Governors (CoG) chairman Wycliffe Oparanya and Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi were involved in talks to resolve the row between the county’s executive and assembly but proved unsuccessful.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail
Politics

ODM records first win in Kibra by elections

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

With just less than 24 hours left to Kibra by elections, the High Court has ordered the electoral board, IEBC, to furnish ODM with Kibra Constituency voters’ register before the by-election penciled in for Thursday November 7.

Justice James Makau said the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) violated ODM’s rights by denying the outfit access to the updated voters’ register.

The Commission was sued by ODM, who told the courts that IEBC literally refused to release to them or publish details of the new number of registered voters in Kibra.

In a suit filed at the High Court last Monday, ODM said it had written several letters to IEBC, seeking to be granted access to the voters’ register, but the agency did not heed their request.

IEBC asked the court to allow them seven days to furnish ODM with the information, but the judge declined to grant the respondents their request.

IEBC argued it was impossible to supply the register, given “there is a short time left before the November 7 by-election”.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail
Politics

Details of IEBC, ODM Meeting Over Kibra Mini Polls

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party on Wednesday morning held a meeting with Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission at Anniversary Towers over the upcoming Kibra constituency by-elections.

The meeting followed concerns raised by the Raila Odinga-led party over Kibra voters register where ODM had claimed that Jubilee party had manipulated the register to rig the polls.

During the meeting, the two came to a conclusion that the register which ODM was demanding will be available for the public on 18th October 2019.

They also agreed that in this elections,there will be no transmission of results as it has been a norm in most polls . The commission said that the whole process will be done manually.

IEBC agreed to use the 2017 voter register in the November 7 by-election after a two-hour meeting with ODM leaders in Nairobi.

The commission’s chairman Wafula Chebukati said that all poll officials who participate in Kibra by-elections will be shared with the political parties through the officer of the registrar of parties and if there are any issues those concerns will be raised by the parties.


De La Rue will print ballot papers.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail
Politics

IEBC Bows to ODM Pressure, Issues Status of Kibra Register of Voters

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Wafula Chebukati-led Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been forced to issue status of Kibra constituency register of voters.

This follows claims by Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement party that the commission is secretly planning with Jubilee party to rig the upcoming Kibra by-elections.

But IEBC through a press release on Tuesday evening says that following the death of Hon Ken Okoth and subsequent receipt of the writ from the Speaker of the National Assembly, and in line with Section 5 (1) (b) of the Elections Act, the Commission suspended Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in Kibra Constituency.

ODM through its MPs on Tuesday claimed that the commission has been registering voters in favor of Jubilee candidate McDonald Mariga.

The Raila-led party has vowed to conduct demonstrations at Anniversary Towers to push IEBC to avail the updated Kibra register of voters.

But IEBC notes further that it embarked on the process of facilitating the voters registered during CVR to participate in the upcoming by election immediately after receiving the notice of vacancy from the Speaker of the National Assembly.

According to the commission, the process entails uploading of CVR data to the biometric voter registration (BVR) server, performing duplication process, production of the preliminary register, quality assurance and inspection of the preliminary register of voters, approval by the Commission, certification and distribution to the Constituency.

The commission notes that the Number of registered Voters as at 2017 is 118,276.

Number of voters registered by CVR and Uploaded is 333.

Number of Transfers into the Constituency is 44.

Number of transfers within the constituency is 22.

Number deleted is one.

Name updates (change of voters biographic details) stands at one.

See the full press release below.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail
Politics

Mariga Reinstated as Jubilee Flag Bearer in Kibra

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee has reversed the verdict of the Kibra Returning Officer and has allowed Jubilee Party’s McDonald Mariga to run in the Kibra MNA by election on 7th November, 2019.

Reading the verdict, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati confirmed that Mariga will subsequently be included in the list of candidates running for the Kibra by election.

Mariga petitioned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission after Kibra returning officer Beatrice Muli invalidated his nomination on grounds that his name was missing from the register of voters.

Making the ruling on Monday, IEBC Dispute Tribunal said it is obligated to conduct continuous registration of citizens as voters.

“It is our finding that the complainant was duly registered as a voter,” IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati said.

Mariga’s legal team led by lawyer Elisha Ongoyi pushed Muli to admit an error on her part and pleaded with the committee to rectify the mistake by overturning the decision.

The seat fell vacant after former MP Ken Okoth died of cancer on July 26 at the Nairobi Hospital.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail
Politics

IEBC Opens up on Why it Had to Bar Mariga From Kibra Race

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) returning officer Beatrice Muli has explained why she had to block Jubilee candidate McDobald Mariga from the upcoming Kibra by-election.

Muli said that the electoral body was transparent citing that Mariga’s documents were received by the electoral body on Tuesday and handled through the same process as other candidates.

“We received Mariga document on September 10 and Mariga went through the nomination process the same way other candidates did. We have a checklist which we use to clear candidates,” she said.

Muli said the pertinent documents were first submitted to verification desk and forwarded to her.

She said IEBC nomination checklist requires aspirant be a registered voter.

Muli insisted that the only way the returning officer can verify if the aspirant is a registered voter is checking the register in the KIEMS.

She said however in Mariga’s case, upon presenting his ID cards, the Jubilee aspirant’s could not be found in the KIEMS.

The search was repeated several times but his details could still not be found.

“As indicated, Mariga names details could not be found in the register and therefore the candidate is not qualified as per our checklist, as the RO guided with the regulations the law, therefore, guided me to invalidate the candidature of Mariga,” she said.

 According to section 5 (1) b of the Elections Act, all electoral activities including voter registration must stop upon declaration of a vacancy.

“Mariga applied for registration on August 26 after the vacancy was declared on August 14 and IEBC gazetted the by-election on August 16, two days later. By law, the application must be brought to headquarters and all details confirmed before they can be put in the voters’ roll. Once that is done the register will have to be gazetted.

“In this case, Mariga’s application is still pending. He cannot, therefore, be cleared to vie,” said an IEBC official.

But despite the written opinion by the legal team, commissioners – Chebukati, Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu – met on Wednesday and ordered  Beatrice Muli, the returning officer, to clear Mariga.

But Muli declined to clear the ex-Harambee Stars international because his name was missing from the voter’s roll.

It is understood that Muli also feared that she would be held personally liable for any election malpractice.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail
Politics

Why Mariga Will Still Lose an Appeal Lodged Against IEBC

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

After being handed a red card on Tuesday evening by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Jubilee party candidate in Kibra by-elections McDonald Mariga indicated that he will appeal the decision within seven days, a move that was backed by Lang’ata MP Nixon Korir and former Kakamega senator Dr Boni Khalwale.

But will it be a journey easy to walk? Well, political pundits are now weighing into circumstances that might still find the former soccer star in another offside.

They say Mariga will still lose an appeal lodged against IEBC over his intentions to run for November 7 Kibra by-election.

IEBC rejected Mariga’s nomination on Tuesday, citing that he is not a registered voter, or at least, his name is not appearing in the current adopted voter register.

But advocate Omwanza Ombati says the appeal will be a waste of time should the IEBC stick to the law and provisions on matters nominations.

According to him, Mariga’s registration came barely three weeks ago and as such, the register containing his name has not been adopted in compliance with the law.

“It’s a technical case. He registered three weeks ago. His name hasn’t been adopted as a voter in compliance with the law. Adoption takes time. He will be locked out,” he says.

Further, Ombati adds, should IEBC ignore that fact, still Section 36 of the Registration Act of 2016 will have Mariga knocked out of the race.

“Assuming he gets away with that, now that his name isn’t in the register, revision needs to be done. By law, he will have to wait until November 18th to be cleared,” he added.

Another political pundit Abuga Makori says that should IEBC adopt current register (post 2017), Mariga will still be ineligible, arguing that he only registered on 26th August, days after Kibra seat was declared vacant.

“Those blaming President Uhuru Kenyatta for Mariga’s predicaments are political whimps. Assuming that IEBC adopts the current register (post 2017), the Betin boss will still be ineligible. He registered on 26th August, days after Kibra seat was declared vacant. The law is strict,” Makori posted on twitter.

Do you think Mariga will finally win the appeal against IEBC to vie for the Kibra MP seat which fell vacant following the demise of Ken Okoth?

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail
Politics

Ruto’s camp reveal Tuju’s secret plan to help ODM win Kibra by-elections

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A controversial letter allegedly from the ruling party Jubilee that was released on Monday evening has continued to raise more questions than answers.

The letter which bore the names of Jubilee candidates interested in Kibra by-elections which letter dismissed by the party’s secretary general Raphael Tuju as fake.

However, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission confirmed having received the letter but got concerned about the letter’s dismissal by the party.

IEBC said it had learnt that Jubilee had disowned the letter sent to the commission on August 26.

“It has come to the attention of the Commission that Jubilee Party has denied authoring the said letter and termed it as fake,” said IEBC adding that it had written to the party forwarding a copy of the letter “for the party’s information and further action.”

The names of the candidates in the alleged fake letter are soccer star McDonald Mariga, Morris Peter Kinyanjui, Walter Trenk, Said Ibrahim and Doreen Wasike.

According to an exclusive report by The Standard, Deputy President William Ruto’s camp which favours Mr Mariga’s candidature – sensationally claimed that their rivals in the ruling party, led by Tuju, had hatched a plot to field a weak candidate for the Kibra election in order to help opposition leader Raila Odinga’s ODM candidate win.

The Mariga candidature has caused a debate, with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s wing of the party insisting that it was in charge of party affairs even as it accused Ruto’s side of pushing for Mariga’s candidature through a fake list of candidates published on Monday evening to hoodwink the electorate.

Jubilee’s candidate is expected to face off with Raila’s ODM candidate in the upcoming November 7, 2019 by-elections.

ODM will hold its nominations on Saturday 31st to get the party’s flag bearer in the mini polls.

The Kibra MP seat fell vacant following the demise of Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer in July.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail
Politics

Political temperatures rise as IEBC announces date for Kibra by-elections

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

With over 20 ODM Party aspirants from Kibra constituency having already expressed interest in the seat that was left vacant following Ken Okoth’s death, political temperatures are already rising with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) having gazetted November 7, 2019 as the day when the Kibra Parliamentary by-election will be held.

In a gazette notice dated August 16, IEBC said each political party intending to participate in the Kibra by-election has until August 26, 2019 to submit names of candidates set to take part in the nominations.

The nominations, according to IEBC, will be held on September 9 and 10.

The campaigning period for the November 7 Kibra by-election will commence  on Monday, September 9 and cease on  November 4 — 48 hours before the polls.

“Campaign time shall run from 7 am to 6 pm during the campaign period,” said IEBC.

The aspirants on Sunday convened a meeting at Kamukunji grounds in Kibra to chart a way forward on how to win the seat amid speculation that the ODM party could impose a candidate on the electorates.

The group has vowed to reject any such attempt by the ODM Party, insisting that the preferred candidate should be a resident of Kibra constituency.

The ODM party National Executive Council (NEC) is expected to convene a meeting next week to come up with a strategy on how the party candidate will be picked.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinTumblrWhatsappTelegramEmail
Load More Posts