Chebukati Dismisses ‘Rumours’ Of Postponement Of 2022 Election, Says Plans On Course For Free, Fair polls

MOMBASA, Kenya, Aug 9 – Its all systems go for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as it prepares for the highly anticipated 2022 general elections.

IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati has dismissed rumors that the polls might be postponed saying the mandate of the electoral commission remains clear and that elections will be conducted on August 9, 2022, according to the constitution.

“Let me take this earliest opportune moment to reiterate the Commission’s commitment towards delivering a free, fair, transparent, and credible 2022 General Election. The commission remains committed to engaging stakeholders as part of its open-door policy to foster citizen participation in the electoral process,” Chebukati said on Monday.

While attending a media stockholder’s workshop in Mombasa, Chebukati said that the law requires the general election be held on the second Tuesday of August in every fifth year.

Chebukati however declined to comment on individual remarks on polls being postponed.

Meanwhile IEBC, has announced that civil servants seeking to vie for elective positions during the upcoming polls must resign from their current jobs by February 7, 2022.

“A public officer who intends to contest an election shall resign from the public office at least six months before the date of election. That is the law and it must be complied with. Let them resign and allow other Kenyans to take those positions,” he said.

During the workshop, the media was urged to familiarize itself with key electoral processes since they will play a critical role in shaping the public opinion while disseminating information.

“These include voter registration, the nomination of candidates, campaigns, polling day activities, counting, the announcement of results, and dispute resolution,” he said.

Media Council of Kenya (MCK) chairman Maina Muiruri challenged members of the fourth estate to develop a sector wide policy on election coverage.

Muiruri also urged media houses to come up with guidelines on how to address issues of journalists seeking to vie for elective positions.

 “It is not possible for a journalist who has already expressed interest in vying for an elective position to perform their duty in the media independently, there has to be a clear position on this matter because currently it does not exist,” said Muiruri.

During the workshop, the Editors Guild announced that the first and second presidential debates will be held on July 7 and July 26, 2022 respectively. 

Debates for running mates will be held in between the two dates,

Journalist are set to be fully trained before the polls as calls continue to ring loud for the need to properly fund media houses in order for them to execute their mandate of informing the nation.