Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Teams ready for run-off elections



By JOHN NJAGI jnjagi@ke.nationmedia.com   ( email the author)

Posted  Monday, January 14  2013 at  21:33
In Summary
  • IEBC is working to ensure the second round of voting is handled competently
There are all indications that the next election will be closely contested and the electoral commission has started earnest preparations in case there is a run-off.
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Isaack Hassan said the election would be hotly contested, and that the commission was working with other organs critical in managing the election, to ensure a run off is handled competently.
The financial hurdle, which previously stood in the way of the commission, was dealt with after Parliament approved Sh6 billion for the exercise.
A tri-partite team composed of the IEBC, Judiciary, and the Political Parties Tribunal is working on the modalities should there not emerge a clear winner on the March 4 poll.
Mr Hassan said IEBC would have to recall election clerks and officials, and new ballot papers and boxes procured within 14 days after the Supreme Court intervenes in case there is a dispute in the first round.
He said the Court had given its assurance that it would arbitrate a dispute between the second or fourth candidate, because the run off is for the top two candidates.
Mr Hassan was speaking during a conference organized by the IEBC, Kenyatta University and the Judiciary to explore the country’s preparedness for a presidential run-off.
Former Zambian president Rupiah Banda, said the provision of a run-off in the Constitution would help ease the pressure on the contestants in the March 4 race.
Swedish ambassador Johan Borgsman said Kenya had a chance to conduct a peaceful and credible poll.
Meanwhile, opening of voter registrations centres for the public to inspect the register failed to kick off on Monday.
In the mean time, the public is required to use the SMS service to verify their registration details.
One can send their identity card or passport number to 15872 or access the details online on the IEBC website http://vote.iebc.or.ke and if the details are wrong, one should visit the centre where they registered as a voter.

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