The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has cautioned that some of the winners in the ongoing nominations could be disqualified.
In a statement on Wednesday, April 20, IEBC explained that it will reject the candidature of any person nominated by a political party for any elective position if they are not qualified.
IEBC stated that anybody who is also not eligible to vie for the August 9, elections under the constitution, the Elections Act or any other written law will not be allowed to be on the ballot.
Further, as the deadline for the party primaries draws to a close, the IEBC informed political parties that a nomination certificate that is issued to a candidate to participate in the General Election shall be signed by the duly authorized party officials.
The Commission stated that it will reject nomination certificates that are not certified, have the wrong date and/or bear any alterations.
The IEBC also gave crucial dates that political parties have to adhere to in April. Political parties now have until Friday, April 22, to conclude any disputes that might have arisen from the nomination exercise.
Parties were also directed to submit the names of persons nominated to contest in the General Election before April 28.
“The prescribed Forms 11H (Presidential), 111 (Senate), 11J (County Woman Member to the National Assembly), 11K (Member of the National Assembly), 11L (County Governor) and 11M (County Assembly Ward Member) of the schedule to the Elections (General) Regulations, 2012.
“The forms shall be delivered in printed copy and electronic version (Microsoft Excel) at Anniversary Towers 21st floor between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m),” the IEBC statement read.
At this moment, political parties are handling disputes from candidates who lost in the ongoing primaries. The commission has also been dragged to court over the exercise and names that it should be receiving of aspirants.
Five Jubilee Party members filed a petition in court seeking to stop the registrar of Political Parties from forwarding the names of nominees of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to the IEBC arising from the nominations.
The petitioners claim that UDA colluded with IEBC to use the list contained in the commission’s voters register contrary to the constitution.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and UDA are racing to conclude their primaries. Deputy President William Ruto’s party has had to conduct repeat nominations in some areas after the exercise was marred with irregularities.
It’s a delicate balancing act for the ODM leader Raila Odinga and Ruto who are keen to avert looming fallout as some of the aspirants are choosing to vie as independent candidates upon losing in the primaries.