Elections team rejects August date
It will not be possible to hold elections next August, the national polls agency has said.
Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Isaack Hassan on Monday told the media that it would not be practical.
Citing the numerous tasks that the IEBC Act says his commission must perform to prepare for the elections, Mr Hassan said there was insufficient time to hold August elections.
“We have to study the report by the Independent Electoral Boundaries and Review Commission (IEBRC) and submit the findings to Parliament within four months, hire and train staff, declare boundaries for constituencies and wards, conduct voter education and registration and procure computers,” he said.
He said the report could also be revised in case Kenyans rejected it.
He appealed to Kenyans to consider a December date. (READ: Fears over Kibaki’s term linked to Cabinet push for December polls)
“The choice of date is not for political reasons but for practicality, because the new Constitution demands that all these tasks to be performed,” he said.
The International Commission for Jurists-Kenya chapter recently said holding an election in August would be a hurried affair for the commissioners.
“They will have to start work immediately. This will be a rushed job and there is a likelihood that the findings may be inaccurate,” ICJ programme officer Elsy Saina said.
“Reviewing names and boundaries of constituencies and wards, compiling a fresh voters’ register and conducting civic education among other tasks need time,” she said.
Although the date issue is before the Constitutional Court, she said, the court is expected to be practical in its judgment.
“As much as the law is there, the Supreme Court should consider the overriding interests of the public,” she said.
Constitution Implementation Commission (CIC) chairman Charles Nyachae early this month challenged the IEBC chairman over the exact date of the elections.
“At first he said it was not possible to hold elections in August but then said if that was the date that was eventually agreed on, his commission is ready,” Mr Nyachae said.
He said he was not disputing the change of date, but merely ensuring the provisions of the Constitution were implemented.
Reported by Rebecca Okwany, Eunice Machuhi and Robert Nyagah
