Voter Registration to Resume in By-Election Areas After 28 Days - IEBC

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) now says that it will resume the voter registration process in areas affected by the recent by-elections after the legally mandated petition period has elapsed.

In a statement on Monday, December 1, the electoral body notedthat the move was in line with Section 76 of the Elections Act, which provides a 28-day window before the voter registration resumes in the affected regions.

According to the Commission,the 28-day window is to allow any party that contests the outcomeof the recent by-elections to file a petition challenging the outcome.

IEBC emphasised that until the four-week period elapses, the electoral register in the affected counties, constituencies or wards must remain unchanged.

"The Commission will resume Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the affected by-election areas after the statutory petition period has lapsed," IEBC announced.

"Section 76 of the Election Act provides for 28 days’ post-declaration of results as the window for filing petitions, if any, challenging the validity of the by-election. In this regard, CVR cannot resume until this window closes and no petition has been filed," it added.

The move is designed to protect the integrity of any potential legal proceedings filed by the various politicians and allow the court to make its ruling based on the exact data used during the mini-polls.

Upon the completion of the legal proceedings,the Commission will reopen voter registration to allow eligible Kenyans in the affected regions to update their details or transfer their voting centres.

IEBC's clarification comes a day after the UnitedOpposition announced plans to challenge the outcomeof the November 27 by-elections held in different parts of the country.

Addressing the press on Sunday, November 30, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka claimed the polls were marred by voter suppression and intimidation.

In particular, Kalonzo claimed that the alleged election rigging took place in Mbeere North and Malava parliamentary by-elections, where United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidates emerged as winners.

"We have evidence that some senior government officials made calls in Mbeere North and directed that the candidate called Wa Muthende must win the polls," Kalonzo alleged.