The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has dismissed remarks by Raila Odinga asking Wafula Chebukati to recuse himself from conducting Mombasa and Kakamega Gubernatorial Polls.
The postponed elections are scheduled for Monday, August 29.
Moreover, via a statement on Wednesday, August 24, the electoral commission clarified that Chebukati was not constitutionally mandated to conduct the elections but rather the County Returning Officers in the aforementioned regions.
“The Commission wishes to inform the public that the statements made today by Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga with regard to the role of the Chairman in the two Gubernatorial elections scheduled for Monday 29th August 2022 are misleading,” part of IEBC statement read.
“Gubernatorial elections are run by gazetted Returning Officers as provided for by the law. For the avoidance of doubt, Returning Officers for Mombasa and Kakamega counties are Ibrahim Swalhah Yusuf and Joseph Ayatta, respectively.” The statement further read.
The Commission wishes to inform the public that the statements made today by Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga with regard to the role of the Chairman in the two Gubernatorial elections scheduled for Monday 29th August 2022 are misleading.
(1/2)— IEBC (@IEBCKenya) August 24, 2022
However while speaking in Mombasa the Azimio Presidential candidate demanded that Chebukati’s deputy, Juliana Cherera, should oversee the two elections.
In addition, Odinga argued that the IEBC chairperson had been sued in over seven petitions challenging the August 9th presidential election results.
Hence, according to Raila he is unqualified to oversee the two elections.
Also Read: Raila Odinga Wants Chebukati To Recuse Himself From Kakamega, Mombasa Gubernatorial Polls
“Chebukati should disqualify himself from the elections ili haki iweze kutendeka hapa, ajiondoe kwenye hii uchaguzi inayoendelea, awachie wale hawana mapendeleo,” Raila said.
“Tunasema ya kwamba uchaguzi wa Mombasa na Kakamega utafanywa chini ya usimamizi wa naibu wa mwenyekiti wa IEBC, Juliana Cherera…” the Azimio boss added.