Chebukati said the Commission is keen to hear and dispense with complaints as quickly as possible so as not to interfere with the election timelines/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 5 – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission says those with complaints regarding the clearance of candidates by IEBC should avoid sideshows so that they may be resolved as quickly as possible.
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati also urged politicians to fully cooperate so that judgments may be expedited.
He was speaking as the electoral body began hearing disputes arising out of such disputes at the Milimani Law Courts.
“We want to give you judgments every other day. For example matters being heard today, we want to make sure that you get your decisions tomorrow morning,” he stated.
“So if we cooperate, we will have a seamless process. Let us all work together, to make this a success.”
Chebukati further assured that the electoral commission is committed to ensuring a free and fair election in August.
“The Commission is committed to ensure that it delivers good judgments which reflect the will of Kenyans,” he stated.
The committee is hearing the disputes at the Milimani Law Courts, Nairobi, and will sit through to Tuesday, June 13.
At the start of the exercise, Chebukati identified what complaints qualified, making clear that they would restrict themselves to complaints relating to the nomination clearance exercise which concluded Friday and not party primaries.
Complaints relating to the party primaries were heard by the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal; a distinction made on the advice of the courts to remedy an overlap of mandate that characterised the last General Election.
At the start of the exercise Monday, Chebukati specified that the Commission would limit itself to complaints related to contention over the qualification of those cleared to contest the August polls such as conviction for an electoral offence in the last General Election.
Others include “complaints that the conduct of the nomination process was invalid, the returning officer did not accept nomination according to the rules; with respect to independent candidates that the candidate failed to get the required number of registered voters supporting his candidacy or was nominated as a member of a political party.”
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