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2017 KENYA ELECTIONS

Jubilee pushes Nairobi primaries to Wednesday

Secretary General Raphael Tuju who spoke to the press after attending a meeting convened by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) stated that the party had made the decision after a request to push the exercise to Tuesday was declined since ODM is set conduct its nominations on that day/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 23 – The Jubilee Party primaries earlier scheduled for Monday have been pushed to Wednesday.

Secretary General Raphael Tuju who spoke to the press after attending a meeting convened by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) stated that the party had made the decision after a request to push the exercise to Tuesday was declined since ODM is set conduct its nominations on that day.

“There were issues of clashing dates and our attention was drawn to the fact that we rescheduled Nairobi to Tuesday and then it was found that it is clashing with ODM so we were asked to vacate that and make it Wednesday,” Tuju said Sunday afternoon.

He was quick to dismiss claims that the party was pursuing an extension to the April 26 deadline by which nominations should close, saying Jubilee was more than ready to conduct primaries throughout the country.

“We don’t need any extension, we have planned to finish our nominations on Wednesday,” he said.

Tuju said the party will crack the whip on members violating the electoral code of conduct adding that the disciplinary committee was seized of the matter and some members could be disqualified from participating in nominations.

“I know that some issues of contravening the code of conduct with respect of what is required by IEBC according to Elections Act, some people contravened and our disciplinary committee will make pronouncements of that,” the former Rarieda legislator said.

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati said that parties had committed during the meeting to abide by the Electoral Code of Conduct and ensure “peaceful and violence-free nominations”.

He said the commission had resolved to have ODM proceeds with its Nairobi nominations on Tuesday as Jubilee conducts its primaries on Wednesday to weed out potential chaos.

“In view of possible security incidents that may arise from holding primaries on the same date in Nairobi, the commission directs ODM to proceed with nominations in Nairobi on 25 April and that Jubilee conducts their nominations in Nairobi on 26 April,” Chebukati said in the company of officials from 14 political parties who attended the meeting.

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He added: “political parties must avoid having primaries at the same venue on the same dates.”

It was also agreed that the state will provide security to all political parties in equal measure to ensure a level playing field during nominations.

Others who attended the meeting are Jubilee Party National Elections Board Chairperson Andrew Musangi, ODM’s Judith Pareno, Secretary General Agnes Zani and KANU’s Nick Salat.

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