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Kenya electoral body sets date for repeat election

Monday September 04 2017
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Only opposition candidate Raila Odinga (right) and President Uhuru Kenyatta, and their running mates, will participate in the Kenya repeat presidential election. PHOTO | SIMON MAINA | AFP

Kenya's electoral commission, IEBC, has set October 17 as the date for the repeat of the annulled presidential election.

In a statement, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairperson Wafula Chebukati said there will be no fresh nomination.

Mr Chebukati, however, said only opposition Nasa leader Raila Odinga and Jubilee candidate President Uhuru Kenyatta, and their running mates, will participate.

Mr Odinga's running mate is Kalonzo Musyoka while Mr Kenyatta is deputised by Mr William Ruto.

"The commission is revising the operational and procedural requirements for the conduct of the fresh election and will share details with stakeholders sooner than later," he said.

Chief Justice David Maraga on Friday, September 1 declared the presidential poll conducted on August 8 invalid.

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The Supreme Court ordered for fresh polls within 60 days.

The IEBC now wants the Court to provide the full judgement in order to know where they can make improvements.

National exams

The announcement comes hours after Education minister Fred Matiang'i asked the commission to conduct the repeat polls by October 17 to avoid interrupting the national examinations timetable.

According to the minister, the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam candidates will start sitting some of their practical subjects as from October 23.

“We hope the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will consider our reasonable and humble request,” said Dr Matiang'i.

His sentiments were echoed by Kenya National Examination Council Chairman George Magoha who said all children have a right and postponing the national examinations will not be appropriate.

"There is a child in every home including in the home of IEBC officers. We should not forget the children in this equation so the players should [be considerate]," he said.

As per the timetables already sent out to schools, Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams will begin on October 31 and end on November 2, while KCSE exams will start on November 6 and end on 29.

A total of 1,003,556 candidates will sit for KCPE exams while 615,773 will sit for KCSE exams.

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