IEBC overstretched to conduct any party primaries – poll body chair

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has asked political parties to conduct their party primaries in a civil manner.

IEBC Chairman, Wafula Wanyonyi Chebukati, while speaking in Mombasa during the Seventh Parliamentary Leadership Summit, said the parties should prepare adequately to carry out their primaries in a free, fair and transparent manner.

Chebukati said the new commissioners have a lot on their plate as they strive to meet the strict deadlines ahead of the August 8 General Election.

On the question on whether the IEBC will conduct the primaries for political parties, Chebukati said that the law is clear on that adding that the poll body is already overstretched.

Late last year, the Jubilee Party – which is led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, expressed optimism that the IEBC would conduct its primaries.

National Assembly Majority Leader, Aden Duale, said that the move would assure the contenders and their supporters of a free and fair process.

Duale had pointed out that the Jubilee Party members had reached consensus to have the primaries conducted by IEBC to avoid cases of manipulation and fallout later on.

The IEBC chair has also rules out any possibilities of extension of the Mass Voter Registration period saying that the exercise will end on Tuesday, February 14 as planned earlier to allow the poll body time to clean up the register and plan for the August 8 poll.

He also called on the Judiciary to expedite the cases filed by political parties on the voter register to allow an audit of the same in time.