Kenyan protesters call for removal of electoral commission officials. Opposition, NASA supporters were back on the streets on Friday to push for the removal of electoral commission officials they accuse of bungling the August 8th elections.
(SABC) Police in Kenya have arrested several people during opposition demonstrations called to push for the removal of electoral commission officials who conducted August's Presidential elections. The Kenyan Supreme Court last month invalidated President Uhuru Kenyatta's second term victory, citing irregularities but did not indicate any specific commissioner or official. The opposition has called for demonstrations every Monday and Friday to push for reforms ahead of fresh presidential elections later this month. Opposition, NASA supporters were back on the streets on Friday to push for the removal of electoral commission officials they accuse of bungling the August 8th elections.
They trained their eyes on Chief Executive Officer, Ezra Chiloba. No political crises in Kenya says Kenyatta. Speaking during campaigns over the weekend in his Central Kenya stronghold, Kenyatta accused his opponent of provoking violence and insisted that the country must go to the polls.
(REUTERS) Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta says there is no political crisis in the country and rejected calls for dialogue between him and his political rival Raila Odinga over a political standoff ahead of fresh presidential elections later this month. Ruto says Kenya’s opposition party is sensing defeat ahead of election. Last week, opposition leader Raila Odinga withdrew from the presidential race, indicating that the electoral commission had failed to meet opposition demands that would guarantee transparent elections.
(REUTERS) Kenya's Deputy President, William Ruto, says the governing Jubilee party has no problem with the country's electoral commission meeting conditions set by the opposition ahead of fresh presidential elections due later this month. Last week, opposition leader Raila Odinga withdrew from the presidential race, indicating that the electoral commission had failed to meet opposition demands that would guarantee transparent elections. Ruto, however, says the opposition has sensed defeat and is therefore seeking to save face through a negotiated political statement. "If they agree on a different printer we have no problem, if they agree on a different supplier we have no problem. William Ruto, Deputy President of Kenya says, "Mr. Kenyas poll commissioner quits over electoral mockery. The electoral commission is yet to comment on the resignation.
(SABC) One of Kenya's electoral commissioners has quit just eight days to Kenya's repeat elections indicating that the polls as planned will not meet the basic expectations of a credible election. Dr. Roselyn Akombe sent a lengthy letter from New York, where she previously worked at the United Nations.
Akombe, a key commissioner at the electoral commission said the poll agency in its current state can not guarantee a credible election later this month. She further stated that she would not be party to what she termed as "electoral mockery. " Kenyans and Pope Francis pray for peaceful election. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has said the election will go ahead.
(SABC) Kenyans on Sunday prayed for the country as it faces a period of political uncertainty days before a repeat presidential election. Kenya's Supreme Court annulled the first election, held in August and won by incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta, over procedural irregularities. The opposition, led by Raila Odinga, has said it will boycott the re-run set for Thursdayunless several demands are met, including the sacking of the chief executive of the electoral commission, Ezra Chiloba. Chiloba has officially taken three weeks leave and will not be involved in the election. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has said the election will go ahead and Kenyatta, has insisted the vote must be held. Meanwhile, Pope Francis urged Catholics to pray for world peace, with a focus on Kenya, a country he visited in 2015.
Uhuru Kenyatta ignores crisis meeting called by electoral commission. President Kenyatta stayed away from the meeting and instead continued with his political campaigns.
(REUTERS) Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta snubbed a crisis meeting called by the chairman of the electoral commission on Thursday and instead spent the day in Western Kenya campaigning ahead of presidential elections which will be re-run next week. Chairman Wafula Chebukati instead held a meeting with opposition leader Raila Odinga who has pulled out of the presidential race, indicating that there is no prospect of a credible poll. On Wednesday, Chebukati warned that he could not guarantee a credible election due to political interference in the commission's work further deepening the political crisis in the East African nation. Chebukati reached out to all political leaders to help end the political crisis in the country.
"Once the Kenyan people see that their leaders are talking and putting Kenya first, then we can douse the tension in the air,” says Chebukati.