Kenya ready for Aug 9 polls despite tight budget-IEBC

NAIROBI— Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) says it is ready to conduct the Aug 9 general election though under a tight budget and urged all eligible Kenyans to register as voters before the Feb 6 deadline.

IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati told Kenyans that they should register as voters in readiness for the August contest.

He said most IEBC clerks remain idle due to low turnout at the registration centres. IEBC has been running an online campaign targeting the youth to persuade them to register as voters.

The IEBC said voter registration exercise for Kenyans living in the diaspora is also underway in various countries for a period of 15 days.

The exercise will be carried out in the 18 registration centres in the following countries; the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa.

However, due to COVID -19 related travel restrictions and logistical challenges, the exercise will not take place as scheduled in Kenya High Commission in London, Canada (Kenya High Commission in Ottawa, Kenya Honorary Consulate in Toronto and Kenya Honorary Consulate in Vancouver) and United Arab Emirates (Kenya Embassy in United Arab Emirates and Kenya Consulate in Dubai).

The poll body has pledged to extend the exercise in the affected countries to make up for the lost days.

“Upon commencement, the exercise will be extended by the number of days lost to ensure that eligible voters are availed the set 15 days for registration,” said the Chair.

Meanwhile, IEBC has gazetted Aug 9 as the date for the general election and listing the timeliness for the various pre-election processes.

He said that a political party intending to present a Presidential candidate through direct nominations or party primaries shall submit the name of the person nominated to contest in the election to the Commission on or before Thursday, April 28.

Chebukati further said candidates intending to participate in the election as independent candidates shall not be members of any registered political party by May 2, at least 3 months before the General Election.

He also said that a public officer who intends to contest in the General Election shall resign from public office by Wednesday, Feb 9.

The IEBC boss said the campaign period for purposes of the Aug 9 general election will officially commence on Sunday, May 29.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK