The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman, Wafula Chebukati, has (Saturday) said that he will not resign ahead of the repeat presidential poll scheduled to take place on October 26.
Mr Chebukati was responding to reports doing rounds that he is under pressure and is set to quit ahead of the fresh poll.
Chebukati also noted that there may be differences but there is no conflict among commissioners.
“There may be differences of opinion but the commission is united and committed to deliver a credible, free and fair elections,” he said.
The Chairman also pointed out that they have not received any other communication from the National Super Alliance presidential candidate Raila Odinga on his withdrawal.
“We have not received any other communication from him so we are proceeding with all plans as scheduled,” said Chebukati.
He also said the commission is focused to conduct a free, fair and credible presidential election.
“Our mandate is on elections and we are ready in all areas. There are institutions to ensure we do our work smoothly,” he stated.
Chebukati spoke in Uasin Gishu during a training for election officials.
IEBC said on Friday that printing of ballots to be cast in the repeat poll begins this week.
IEBC commissioner Roselyn Akombe said the commission was prepared for the fresh poll in terms of logistics and that training of staff was expected to spearhead the process.
Akombe, however, pointed out that only observers could comment if the current environment can accommodate free, fair and credible election.
IEBC announced on Thursday that the election would continue as planned and all eight candidates who participated in August 8 General Election will be included in the ballot.
NASA leader Raila Odinga pulled out of the race insisting that he can only do so after the IEBC is reformed.
NASA has organised protests to force out IEBC officials it accuses of bungling the August 8 presidential poll in favour of President Uhuru Kenyatta whose victory the Supreme Court annulled courtesy of a NASA petition and ordered a fresh poll.
High Court Justice Mativo determined that all candidates who participated in the General Election held on the 8th August 2017 were entitled to participate in the fresh poll.
The Court ordered IEBC to include Thirdway Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot in the October 26 poll. Judge Mativo ruled that there was no legal basis to bar Mr Aukot from participating.
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