IEBC to hold 6 by-elections on December 15

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced Tuesday, December 15, 2020 as the new date for 6 by-elections that were thrown into disarray in April by the coronavirus pandemic.

A statement by commission said the by-election for the Mswambweni parliamentary seat and five other ward by-elections among them Kahawa Wendani, Kisumu North, Dabaso, Wundanyi/ Mbale and Lake View Wards would be held in December.

The IEBC also cautioned all the aspiring candidates to adhere to all the laid out protocols by the Ministry of Health to avert the spread of the coronavirus during campaigns and the polls.

Further, the commission has announced the commencement of campaigns in Msambweni Constituency, Kahawa Wendani, Kisumu North, Dabaso, Wundanyi/ Mbale and Lake View Wards from Thursday, October 15 to Saturday, December 12.

Dabaso Ward will however resume campaigns from Monday, November 16 to Saturday, December 12.

The campaigns will be allowed to run from 7am to 6pm daily with IEBC expected to publish COVID-19 guidelines for the conduct of the by-elections in the coming weeks.

In April, the IEBC announced a postponement of the By-elections, citing unprecedented challenges occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

The statement noted that the guidelines on social distancing and the dusk-to-dawn curfew would ultimately affect the polling.