This archive report was first published on 15 May 2021.
On May 15th, 2021, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) stated that it was well-prepared to supervise the Juja and Bonchari by-elections on May 18th.
Despite a high court ruling in the BBI petitions that the electoral body had no quorum to conduct its business, IEBC announced the end of all campaign activities in Juja and Bonchari constituencies as well as wards going to poll on May 18th.
IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati directed that no candidate or their agents would be allowed to continue with any form of campaign, citing that by law, all campaigns were required to end 48 hours to the election date.
Chebukati also noted that IEBC was cognizant of the COVID-19 pandemic and had taken measures to ensure the safety of voters and polling officials.
He stated that voters would only be admitted to the polling station if they had a properly worn face mask.
Meanwhile, Nyanza Regional Commissioner Magu Mtindika assured residents of Bonchari Constituency of peaceful elections on May 18th after deploying several security operatives in the region.
Addressing the press on Saturday at the Kisii County Commissioner's office in Kisii town, Mtindika said the police had prosecuted three people in court for disrupting peace and would arraign others on Monday.
He also added that the police had names of people responsible for two vehicles loaded with pangas and crude weapons planning to cause chaos during voting and ordered the County Police Commander to arrest and arraign them on Monday next week.
The Nyanza Regional Commissioner also promised that the police would arrest people involved in voter bribery before the by-election.
Responding to allegations by UDA and ODM parties that the police were intimidating and harassing their candidates and supporters, Mr. Mtindika said the police were doing their work to ensure law and order was maintained during this by-election period.
