ODM Mombasa Gubernatorial Candidate Nassir Moves to Court After IEBC Postponed Elections

After the elections for the position of Mombasa governor were once again postponed, ODM contender Abdulswamad Nassir on Wednesday accused the electoral body of abusing voters’ rights.

He claimed that the decision will have serious repercussions, including postponing crucial services that county residents have come to anticipate.

“The Constitution is clear; it states that the county governor shall be elected on the second Tuesday of August after every five years,” said the outgoing Mvita MP.

He added: “The law further notes that there are only three reasons that can lead to an election to be postponed. When there is a serious breach of security, an actual national calamity or a breach on how the General Election was conducted.”

Read: Kakamega, Mombasa Gubernatorial Elections Postponed Again

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Wednesday announced that it had postponed the governor, parliamentary, and ward elections due to intimidation and profiling of its staff

The Mombasa and Kakamega counties’ gubernatorial elections are among the contests that are impacted.

“The initial postponement was purposely orchestrated for no other reason but to ensure a low turnout of voters in Azimio strongholds, in this case Mombasa and Kakamega,” said Nassir.

He also criticized Wafula Chebukati, chair of the IEBC, for declaring the elections a by-election.

Read Also: Kakamega, Mombasa Gubernatorial Elections Suspended

“According to the law that governs this country, a by-election only occurs when the person in that particular office is impeached, resigned or has died,” he said.

If the election is not held on August 23, Nassir pledged to file a lawsuit.

He claimed that the suspension of the elections was unlawful and unconstitutional.

Parliamentary elections in Rongai in Nakuru, Kacheliba and Pokot South in West Pokot, and Kitui Rural in Kitui County have also been postponed.

Read Also: Drama As Khalwale Fails to Endorse Malala for Kakamega Governor

Also halted were the MCA elections in the Nyaki West ward of Imenti North in Meru and the Kwa Njenga in the Embakasi South of Nairobi County.

ANC Kakamega gubernatorial candidate Cleophas Malala on his part urged his supporters to keep calm as they await a new election date.

This he said as he condemned the intimidation of IEBC officials.

“As brand Cleo Malalah, we understand the current predicament of the commission. We fully stand with @IEBCKenya and urge our supporters to remain calm as we await the gazzetment of a new election date. We are ready to face our competitors on the ballot on a date the commission will pronounce…” tweeted Malala.