Why IEBC suspended gubernatorial elections in Kakamega and Mombasa

“The ballot papers for Mombasa and Kakamega governor position have wrong gubernatorial pictures and their images printed in them. The names and the pictures do not tally,” said Chebukati

By Mercy Andeso and Seliphar Musungu,Nairobi

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has suspended gubernatorial elections for Kakamega and Mombasa.

The electoral body has also put on hold the elections of Kacheliba and Pokot South parliamentary elections.

“We realized that the ballot papers had errors. The problem arose from the printer and in order to have free and fair elections, we have decided to have the elections for the governor position in Kakamega and Mombasa counties be postponed. We shall also not have elections in Kacheliba and Pokot South constituencies respectively,”

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati while addressing the media at the Bomas of Kenya said that elections at the affected areas will be carried out at a later date.

“We realized that the ballot papers had errors. The problem arose from the printer and in order to have free and fair elections, we have decided to have the elections for the governor position in Kakamega and Mombasa counties be postponed. We shall also not have elections in Kacheliba and Pokot South constituencies respectively,” said Chebukati

According to Chebukati, they made the decision upon realization that the details and images of the candidates were wrong.

“The ballot papers for Mombasa and Kakamega governor position have wrong gubernatorial pictures and their images printed in them. The names and the pictures do not tally,” said Chebukati

He added: “In Kacheliba constituency, ballot papers have wrong pictures of parliamentary aspirants printed on them. The elections in the affected areas shall be announced later through a gazette notice,”

With the new developments, the candidates in these areas will now have to wait longer to know their fate.

“To my supporters, wake up tomorrow, go and vote for other elective seats and vote for William Ruto as the next President. They have just postponed my victory, just feel encouraged, let’s vote in large numbers to avoid voter apathy,”

In a rejoinder, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala expressed his dissatisfaction with the new development saying IEBC is not serious with their work.

“We received information in the morning that the ballot papers had a problem and a few minutes ago, Chebukati has announced that Kakamega elections has been suspended, I am not happy with IEBC, papers came two weeks but didn’t take time to confirm if all was well,” said Malala

“To my supporters, wake up tomorrow, go and vote for other elective seats and vote for William Ruto as the next President. They have just postponed my victory, just feel encouraged, let’s vote in large numbers to avoid voter apathy,” added Malala

Malala said that tomorrow he will be a free agent and will traverse the entire county protecting Kenya Kwanza votes.

Ends