IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati has said the general election is set to take place on August 8th according to the stipulated law despite NASA’s claims that they will boycott the process if the court of appeal rules against the set tallying rule. While addressing Presidential candidates in a meeting with IEBC officials in Nairobi, Chebukati said NASA leaders who threatened to boycott the elections should keep the law, “I want to urge those making such comments to respect the rule of law, and let’s give all institutions in the country a chance to participate, to make this country a better place,” said Chebukati, adding that the commission is ready. However, he didn’t want to comment on the issue further given that the appeal is in Court and that the boycott issue was commented politically.
The IEBC chair also reiterated the importance of having campaign schedules as we near the general elections, given that they help to maintain peace, “If a certain party is having a rally a Uhuru Park, then another party decides to walk there, what will happen?” he posed, citing that supporters will clash. He urged all candidates to take the campaign schedules seriously so that there can be no cases of violence.
IEBC commissioner Margaret Mwachanya assured independent candidates that the election process will be credible and fair, saying that the commission represents fairness on all sides. “Independent candidates vying for MCA seat to the top, you too, are candidates. Once you are cleared by the IEBC, you have qualified as candidates,” she said, adding that all IEBC officials are focused on a free, fair ad credible election. Some presidential candidates didn’t turn up for the meeting but sent representatives.
