Kenyan electoral body promises stern action on officials implicated in malpractice

Kenya electoral body has promised to take stern actions against any of its officials implicated in election malpractices hours after Supreme Court nullified the presidential results.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman, Wafula Chebukati on Friday at 1430GMT addressed the nation and said the commission was deeply concerned over the verdict.

"We urge the Supreme Court to issue us a full judgment so that we can know the areas of concern before we hold another election." he said.

"Somebody has to take responsibility for the errors," he added.

Mr. Chebukati further invited the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution to carry out investigations and bring to book any of its officials implicated in the electoral malpractice.

"Prosecute any of our staff that may have been involved in the violation of the election results."

Chief Justice, David Maraga delivered the presidential elections petition verdict that IEBC had breached the constitution in the transmission of the election results and therefore ruled the results null and void.

“A declaration is here that the president elections held on 8th August was not conducted in accordance with the constitution and therefore it is invalid, null and void” Maraga told a packed court.

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IEBC on 12th August declared incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta the winner of the presidential elections after he garnered 8,203,290 (54.27%) votes against his closest political rival National Super Alliance coalition (NASA) Presidential candidate, Raila Odinga's 6,762,224 (44.74%) votes.

The opposition however disputed the results and moved to Supreme Court alleging elections were rigged despite international observers giving the process a clean bill of health.

The chairman has asked the Supreme Court to speciously hand over the full verdict ruling so that they can be able to seal the loopholes and avoid a repeat of the same.