Election in Nyanza postponed indefinitely

Election in Nyanza postponed indefinitely

The electoral commission has once again suspended the repeat presidential election in four Nyanza counties that were rocked by chaotic demonstrations on Thursday.

Addressing the media on Friday evening at the Bomas of Kenya, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said the polls, which were postponed to Saturday (October 18) had been put off to a later date in 3,635 polling stations most of them in the Nyanza counties of Kisumu, Siaya, Migori and Homa Bay.

The said polling stations account for 1,770,475 votes or 9 percent of the total registered voters in the country.

The IEBC boss cited security threats to the electoral body’s staff as the reason for the postponement.

“Yesterday some of our staff were hijacked, tortured, in some areas, some of their homes broken into and looted, others were forbidden and violently prevented from reporting to their polling stations and were literally chased away. Some had to take refuge in police stations up to now as we speak,” Chebukati said.

“When it comes to our staff, the returning officers and polling staff; when their lives are in danger, as a commission we are concerned.”

The regions where the polls have been postponed include Alego Usonga, Awendo, Bondo, Gem, Ugenya, Homa Bay town, Kabondo Kasipul, Karachuonyo, Kasipul, Kisumu Central, Kisumu East, Kisumu West, Muhoroni, Ndhiwa, Nyakach, Nyando, Nyatike, Rangwe, Rarieda, Rongo, Seme, Suba North, Suba South, Suna East, Suna West, Ugunja and Uriri.

Two regions – one polling station in Fafi Constituency and five polling stations in Turkana Central – will vote on Saturday, October 28. In Fafi, the election was hampered by security challenges while in Turkana, heavy rains made it difficult to transport election material.

Tags:

IEBC postpones elections in Homa Bay IEBC postpones elections in Kisumu IEBC postpones elections in Migori IEBC postpones elections in Nyanza again IEBC postpones elections in Siaya

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories