IEBC Announces Date For Four By-Elections
All their seats fell vacant following the deaths of elected leaders Yusuf Haji (Garissa), Oroo Oyioka (Bonchari), Francis Munyua Waititu (Juja), and John Mburu Githinji ‘Wamaria’ (Rurii).
Marvin Chege 
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced May 18, 2021, as the official date for the by-elections for the Member of the Senate, Garissa County, Members of the National Assembly, Bonchari, and Juja Constituencies.
In their gazetted notice, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati also announced that the by-election for Member of Rurii County Assembly ward, Nyandarua County will take place on the same date.
All their seats fell vacant following the deaths of elected leaders Yusuf Haji (Garissa), Oroo Oyioka (Bonchari), Francis Munyua Waititu (Juja), and John Mburu Githinji ‘Wamaria’ (Rurii).
Senator Yusuf Haji and MP Oroo Oyioka died on Monday, February 15. Juja MP Francis Waititu passed on a week later after a long battle with cancer.
The Rurii Ward MCA passed on in January this year.
Chebukati further announced that each political party intending to participate in the by-elections should submit the names of the persons contesting in party primaries and the date of the party primaries on or before Monday, March 8, 2021.
“A public officer who intends to contest in the by-election shall resign from public office within seven (7) days of the declaration of the vacancy by the Speaker,” read part of the notice.
“The Commission shall publish, in the Gazette, the names of the persons contesting in a party primary and the date of the party primary within seven (7) days of receipt of the names of the
candidates.”
Candidates intending to participate in the by-elections as independent candidates shall not have been members of any political party at least three (3) months immediately before the date of the by-elections.
Political parties intending to present candidates in the by-elections shall after its primaries resolve all intra-party disputes and submit the list of persons nominated to contest in the election to the Commission on or before Monday, March 22, 2021.
“Political parties intending to present candidates in this election through direct nominations shall submit the list of persons nominated to contest in this election to the Commission on or before March 22, 2021,” adds the notice.
