A city lawyer has filed a lawsuit against the electoral commission for its latest mandate requiring political parties to adhere to the two-thirds gender rule.
Lawyer Adrian Kamotho is also contesting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s (IEBC) decision to penalise all candidates by preventing them from running in elections if their sponsoring political party fails to follow the gender-parity criteria.
The lawyer is requesting that the notice be quashed, claiming that the mandate is draconian and unreasonable.
On Monday, IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati gave parties until Thursday, May 12, to ensure that they comply with the two-third gender rule.
Read: Moses Kuria Drags IEBC To Court Over Selection of Running Mates
According to Chebukati, the commission discovered that there had been an improvement in adherence to the Constitution’s gender rule.
He did highlight, however, that some political parties have failed to resubmit their nomination lists due to time restrictions, necessitating the extension of the deadline.
“In keeping with the provisions of Article 83 (3) of the Constitution of Kenya, which stipulates that the conduct of the elections should be facilitative, the Commission extends the deadline for political parties to submit their lists of nominated persons to May 12, 2022, at 5 pm,” Chebukati said.
The parties had been given until Monday to comply with the gender regulation.
Read Also: MCAs Intending to Run for MP Seats Should Not Resign By February 9 – IEBC Clarifies
There would be no additional extensions for political parties, said Chebukati.
The UDA party of Deputy President William Ruto is among the parties that did not comply with the order by the Monday deadline.
The commission was looking into more than 40 political parties for breaking the rule in their previous lists of nominees for MPs and senate seats.
Musalia Mudavadi’s African National Congress is amending its list and urging all nominees for MPs and senate seats to submit their applications.
Read Also: Three UDA Murang’a Senatorial Aspirants Shelve Ambitions to Support Joe Nyutu
ODM, Jubilee, and Wiper were among other parties that were non-compliant.
The electoral commission warned non-compliant parties that they would be barred from participating in the general election.
more follows
1 thought on “IEBC Sued Over “Unreasonable” Two-thirds Gender Rule”