IEBC releases schedule for by-elections campaigns

IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairman Wafula Chebukati has released timelines for the Embakasi and Ugenya constituencies by-elections slated for April 5.

The schedule also applies to the Lelan Ward by-election in Elgeyo Marakwet.

The two parliamentary by-elections were announced after National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi declared the seats held by Christopher Karan (Ugenya) and Julius Mawathe (Embakasi South) vacant on January 7.

Mr Muturi’s declaration followed the Supreme Court judgment of December 21, 2018 that nullified the victories of the MPs in the August 8, 2017 general elections on grounds that they were not validly elected. 

In the Kenya gazette issue of January 11, IEBC chairman Mr Wafula Chebukati says that political parties intending to participate in the elections shall submit the names of persons contesting in the nominations by Monday 21, 2019.

This came even as he announced that public officers who want to contest in the by-elections have seven days to resign from their office counting from January 7, when Mr Muturi officially notified IEBC of his issuance of writs declaring the seats vacant.

Independent candidates will be eligible to contest in the elections as long as they have not been members of any political party for the last three months before the by- election date as set by the commission.

The Independent candidates are required to submit their names and symbols they intend to use in the by- elections by January 14 to pave the way for their publication in the Kenya gazette at least 14 days before the nomination day.

The commission has further announced that the nomination process for the political parties and independents shall be held on February 4th and 5th.

The political parties will have until February 15 to solve all the disputes arising from the nomination exercise.

This will pave the way for the official campaign period, which starts from February 4 to April 2, being 48 hours before the by- election date.

Candidates and their supporters will be required to strictly run their campaigns from 7am to 6pm during the campaign period.

The parties and independent candidates shall appoint and submit to the commission the names of their constituency election agents by March 21 for accreditation purposes.

The registration and revision of voter register in the electoral areas however, stands suspended until April 15, 2019.

Parties in the by- elections have also been notified of the need to subscribe to and observe the electoral code of conduct as set out in the second schedule of the Elections Act of 2011.

The law provides that a person found guilty of an election offence shall be liable to penalties imposed by the Election Offences Act or disqualification depending on the nature and weight of the offense.