The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has issued a stern warning that the upcoming Ol Kalou by-elections could face postponement or even outright cancellation until 2027, just days before Kenyans were set to head to the polls.
IEBC chairperson Estrutus Ethekon delivered the cautionary statement during the launch of the 2022 pre-election dispute resolution committee report, where he detailed serious concerns about breaches of the election code of conduct in the constituency.
Ethekon pointed to rising violence in the area, alongside disturbing allegations of voter bribery and illegal night campaigns, all of which go against the commission's guidelines and threaten the integrity of the electoral process.
"If we find that the environment is not conducive enough for us to conclude the by-election in Ol Kalou, we will be left with no choice other than to take the unfortunate and drastic step of postponing the election. If that is not enough, we will cancel it altogether," Ethekon stated firmly.
The IEBC boss revealed that the commission had received multiple reports highlighting voter bribery, incidents involving gun violence, and candidates conducting campaigns after dark, raising serious questions about whether the election can be conducted in a free, fair, and peaceful environment.
In addition to the possibility of postponement, the commission also hinted at taking action against individual candidates involved in the chaos and bribery claims.
"If we find any culpability or any breaches of the code of conduct, the proper remedies shall apply, including disqualifying some of those candidates, if not all of them, who are involved," Ethekon added, making it clear that no one would be above the law.
The chairperson assured that the commission would work closely with security agencies and other stakeholders to assess whether conditions on the ground are suitable for the exercise. However, he maintained that canceling the election remains a viable option if the situation fails to improve before the scheduled polling day.
This warning comes at a time when campaign activities in Ol Kalou have intensified significantly, with both opposition and government-backed candidates crisscrossing the constituency in a last-minute scramble for votes.
Political temperatures have been rising steadily, with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen recently engaging in a war of words following reports of chaos and gunshots near a hotel during a meeting linked to the DCP candidate.
In a statement released on Wednesday, July 1, Gachagua accused security officers and what he described as state-sponsored groups of targeting his supporters, claiming that several campaigners had been assaulted and arrested.
The former DP went further to allege that Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had dispatched what he referred to as a 'Nairobi Sierra killer squad' to disrupt his party's activities in the constituency.
However, Murkomen was quick to respond, dismissing the former Deputy President's allegations and warning against any attempts to incite violence during the by-election campaigns.
The election, which is scheduled for July 16, has attracted several candidates, but competition remains stiff between the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Kamau Ngotho and Samuel Nyaga of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
In what many observers have interpreted as efforts to secure votes for the UDA candidate, government officials have camped in the constituency launching various projects, including road construction works and the provision of subsidised gas cylinders to local residents.
As the clock ticks towards the election date, all eyes remain on the IEBC and security agencies to see whether they will give the green light for the polls to proceed or take the drastic step of calling them off entirely.
0 Comments