Education Principal Secretary(PS) Julius Bitok announced that all primary schools in Emurua Dikirr, Transmara Sub-County, will remain closed on Friday, March 27.
According to PS Julius Bitok, the closure will facilitate the ruling party, United Democratic Alliance (UDA), nominations ahead of the by-elections, following a request from the party.
The learning institutions will be used as polling stations during the UDA primaries after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) set May 14 as the date for the by-election.
Emurua Dikirr Primary Schools to Close March 27 for UDA Nominations
At the same time, PS Bitok warned aspirants and their supporters against damaging school property, saying those found culpable would face the law.
“I want to confirm that on the 15th of this month, I received a letter from the UDA party requesting that primary schools in Emurua Dikirr constituency be used as polling stations for the purposes of the UDA primaries coming on the 27,” Bitok said.
“We have allowed them to use these schools as polling stations, and we have given very firm instructions to the aspirants that we are not going to entertain any destruction or interference of properties of schools.”
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Bitok has assured that the Ministry will maintain its neutrality and grant permission to other parties that wish to use schools as polling stations.
This comes after the party’s National Elections Board (NEB) rescheduled its nominations on Wednesday, March 18, from Saturday, March 28, to Friday.
The party also said that nomination exercises in other areas, including Porro Ward in Samburu West Constituency, Samburu County, and Endo Ward in Marakwet East Constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County, will also be held on Friday.
Also Read: IEBC Announces Dates for Emurua Dikirr, Samburu, and Elgeyo Marakwet By-Elections
Emurua Dikirr Race
The IEBC will conduct a by-election in Emurua Dikirr following the death of area MP Johanna Ngeno in a plane crash earlier this month.
The constituency has 44,447 voters and 94 polling stations. The commission says the poll will cost KSh59 million.
Campaigns ahead of the nominations for the Emurua Dikirr parliamentary seat have gained momentum, with two candidates bowing out of the race.
Amid a developing realignment and bid to secure the seat, key allies of the former MP have come together and settled on Bernard Ng’eno, a former personal assistant to the late legislator, as their flagbearer.
Two of the candidates-Ezra Sawe (an employee of the Narok County Government) and Bernard Rono (an administrator at the Narok County Government)-officially withdrew from the contest after a consultative meeting at a Sierra Hotel in Bomet town on Saturday, which lasted over six hours.
It comes as the National Election Board (NEB) chairman, Anthony Mwaura, assured candidates and residents that the nominations will be free and fair.
