In the wake of a mix-up in the printing of ballot papers in four elective seats across the country, the chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Wafula Chebukati has suspended elections in those seats.
As a result of the suspension of governor elections in Mombasa and Kakamega counties until further notice, a number of electoral areas have been subject to suspension. The decision was made after Chebukati realized that there was a mistake in the details and images related to the candidates.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati addresses the press. [File Photo]
A number of counties in Kenya, including Mombasa and Kakamega, have stopped running for governor until further notice, due to the suspension of elections there.
The decision was made after Chebukati realized that there was a mistake in the details and images related to the candidates.
Besides the Pokot South and Kacheliba constituency elections, there are several other elections affected for the same reason.
Chebukati claims that ballot papers for the Mombasa governor election have printed incorrect pictures and images of the gubernatorial candidates.
“On the ballot papers for the Kacheliba constituency, there are wrong pictures and images of members of the National Assembly,” he added.
During a press briefing that took place ahead of the elections on Tuesday, he spoke at the Bomas of Kenya.
Chebukati informed the press that, as a result, the elections for the respective positions had been postponed to a later date, which will be announced through a gazette notice later.
According to the IEBC boss, there were also five constituencies whose ballot papers were incorrectly routed to Chuka Ingambeng’ombe in Tharaka Nithi county, where the elections were held.
It was erroneously sent to the Kuresoi constituency in Nakuru county that ballot papers during the county assembly elections for the Mua ward in Machakos county were sent out.
The ballots for the Tiaty women representative in Baringo county have also been sent to Lamu county for the same purpose.
In the end, the commission rerouted the ballot paper pellets via air transport that was contracted for such emergencies in order to ensure that they were delivered to the right places”, he explained.
