MP Nassir challenges IEBC decision to postpone Mombasa Governor elections

Mombasa gubernatorial candidate Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has moved to court to challenge the decision by the electoral commission IEBC to postpone indefinitely the Governor elections in the county.

Speaking to the press, Nassir, who is contesting on an ODM party ticket, termed the postponement announced by IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati as a violation of the law.

"We are not going to allow an individual to violate and rape the Constitution of this country and shred it into peices," said Nassir.

"This is utter stupidity... We will not allow it. We will go to court and we are going to expect and order that those elections be held on the stipulated date!"He added.

Nassir read malice in the postponement of the Mombasa and Kakamega Governor elections, he alleged that their rivals in the Kenya Kwanza coalition are always pre-informed about the postponement.

"The law is very clear. You cannot just wake up and change the election date. How comes our competitors have information beforehand that elections will be rescheduled?" posed Nassir.

"No consultation. No nothing. What do you take the people of Kakamega and Mombasa for? We will not allow it," he said.

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati, in a statement to newsrooms on Wednesday, said the postponement of the elections was occasioned by alleged harassment of the commission’s staff in the course of executing their duties.

Chebukati cited that the electoral body had resolved to push to a later date eight elections, among them gubernatorial polls in Mombasa and Kakamega counties.

The commission also postponed parliamentary elections in Kitui Rural Constituency (Kitui County), Kacheliba Constituency (West Pokot) County), Pokot South Constituency (West Pokot County) and Rongai Constituency (Nakuru County).

Member of County Assembly Ward elections for Nyaki West (North Imenti Constituency - Meru County), and Kwa Njenga (Embakasi South Constituency – Nairobi County) have also been postponed.

“The Commission is concerned that some of its critical staff who objectively and impartially performed their duties at the National Tallying Centre are being intimidated and harassed through profiling and/or arbitrary arrests,” wrote Chebukati.