Campaigns officially start for Kenya's election re-run, EC lays down rules

Kenya’s electoral commission has announced the start of campaigns toward the October 17 presidential election re-run after the Supreme Court nullified the result of the August vote.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said in a gazette that the campaigns start on Wednesday, September 6, and end October 15 – 48 hours before polls open.

Please read through this Gazette Notice for important information on presidential candidates, campaign period & party agents. #ElectionsKE pic.twitter.com/yTzIU7o5TD

— IEBC (@IEBCKenya) September 6, 2017

It also added that the campaign time shall run from 7 am to 6 pm during the period.

The candidates are incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta of the Jubilee Party and veteran opponent Raila Odinga of the National Super Alliance (NASA) which contested the August election result at the court.

The IEBC tasked the parties contesting the election to present the names of their polling agents by October 2.

Thirdway Alliance presidential candidate Dr Ekuru Aukot has challenged the IEBC over fielding only the two popular candidates for the election re-run. He filed a case at the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Raila Odinga has said on Monday that he wanted the election to be held at a later date. This request was rebuffed by President Kenyatta who said he had no legal requirement to make such demands.

The IEBC on Tuesday said it had appointed for three months a project coordinator and officials to run the information technology, logistics, operations and training as well as the national tallying centre during the re-run.

The appointments followed Odinga’s threat that his coalition would not participate in the re-run unless some IEBC officials were removed and its voting technology audited.

Those who have been replaced have not been named and the demand to audit the election technology ahead of the re-run has not been responded to.

The Supreme Court ruling overturning the re-election of Kenyatta on September 1 is the first time a sitting president in Africa has suffered that fate.

The opposition says it plans to file 62 court cases contesting governorship, lawmaker, and local seats.