A section of Church and political leaders drawn from Nyanza have opposed plans by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conduct the repeat presidential election in the region on October 28th (Saturday).
On Thursday, the electoral commission postponed the poll in four counties of Kisumi, Homa Bay, Migori and Siaya due to security issues and announced it would held on Saturday.
“We might have to postpone the election in some other constituencies other than those in Siaya, Migori, Kisumu and Homa Bay to Saturday due to bad weather or security reasons but we will give you a comprehensive list and it will be gazetted tomorrow for purposes of voting on Saturday,” IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati said.
However, in a presser on Friday at St Stephens ACK Church in Kisumu, Church leaders said the poll could plunge the four counties into chaos and open the stage for police brutality.
They asked government to withdraw heavy police presence in the region and called on the IEBC to halt plans to hold the election.
“For Mr Chebukati to say he has requested Mr Boinnet (IG) for assistance to ensure voting takes place specifically in Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori, that is a license for State massacre in these areas because the only language Boinnet knows is that of guns and bullets,” read Rev Joshua Owiti in their statement.
At the same time, political leaders led by Kisumu Senator Fred Outa, Woman Representative Rozah Buyu and a host of MPs and MCAs said no election would be held in the county.
“We know Chebukati is trying to justify his alleged 48 percent turnout in the sham elections but he must know we are not interested in their charade,” said Mr Outa.
Nyando MP Jared Okello said that at the rate, one could not differentiate IEBC and Jubilee party.
“We reject their planned polls… I’m a staunch SDA adherent and our right as a church must be respected,” Mr Okello said.
The whole of Nyanza does not…
The whole of Nyanza does not belong to NASA supporters only.There are other parties with supporters there too that would like to practice their constitutional rights just like other Kenyans elsewhere. Hey, hypocrites, remeber your tingod RAILA siad those not voting stay away from the polling centers, and better still stay at home?
And while I am at it, results elsewhere in the country indicate that NASA supporters still wnet on and voted, no matter how few their votes were.
Their wishes should be…
Their wishes should be respected.
This is a sham election.
Not everyone wants to be part of this sham.
Doreen – Not to worry Baba…
Doreen – Not to worry Baba is going to conduct his own elections in 90 days and Akombe will be the chairman of NRM Election commission. I think you should vie for a position with that commission. You have been a very good mfuasi
Am not worried about…
Am not worried about anything.
If Luo’s don’t want to vote, why force them.
Just put zero.
I am with you there @Doreen…
I am with you there @Doreen. It is their right and it should be respected. Matiba boycotted in 1997 and Kenya did not stop! In any case, voting in these four counties will not make a difference because they can not give Raila the requisite numbers to defeat Uhuru. Uhuru should be declared and sworn in….na Kenya iende mbele- barring a petition from any Kenyan, like you.
Okiya O MO TA TA just filed…
Okiya O MO TA TA just filed a petition.
So,let’s wait for all the other petitions being filed next week and we see from there.
The turn out nationally was…
The turn out nationally was just plain low. Why insist on voting in Nyanza when the voters have indicated they do not wish to vote. Why not set up a few booths inside police stations for those who wish to vote.
Voters have not indicated…
Voters have not indicated that they won’t vote. Goons and their goonish leaders have prevented them from voting. If the goons and the goonish leaders stay at home as advised by their rebel movement leader, and the polling stations stay open, the real voters will come and vote. But don’t cause chaos and then claim that people don’t want to vote. SMH. These kichwa ngumu kenians!
They don’t want to vote,…
They don’t want to vote, they don’t want yo vote.
Leave them alone.
This is a sham election.
There needs to be fresh elections.
Doreen: At some point, you…
Doreen: At some point, you need to raise your head above the water and breath clean air. Stop hallucinating. Fresh elections just occurred as ordered by the Supreme court. Even Maraga voted. You must have just come back from Mars.
Supreme court ordered a…
Supreme court ordered a fresh election, I agree.
They also said systemic failures caused the annulment of the August election.
It is clear, IEBC did not have enough time to fix the systemic failures.
This election should have been postponed to allow IEBC more time to correct its mistakes.
Anyways.Yaliopita si ndwele.
You know it because you work…
You know it because you work for IEBC. Right? Stop hallucinating.
@Doreen, another election…
@Doreen, another election will be in 5 yrs. get it
What I know is This is a…
What I know is This is a MESS.
Another fresh election with everyone in agreement can easily solve this mess.
Just my 2cts.
Uhuru Kenyatta needs to stop…
Uhuru Kenyatta needs to stop this massacre this Massacre he is planning in Nyanza.
one thing is clear in Kenya…
one thing is clear in Kenya…religious leaders do not speak well b4 things gets out hand…..now since things are hot…and want to appears are solving problem they side with politicians who give them food….
embu angalia shingo za hao watu kanisa….sema kukunda
NO VOENO PAY. Federal…
NO VOENO PAY. Federal government should not pay for counties who refused its people to vote . They did not give them a choice . they ordered them yet they talk about their right and freedom to protest . 2008 death and increasing in 2017 and Raila has blood of innocent people in his hands .
dont ask the government for…
dont ask the government for money . you have shown you are self sustainable . what a relief to tax payers . No vote no pay