Ezra Chiloba, CEO of Kenyan Independent Electoral
and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), said on Friday he
was taking three weeks of leave.
Opposition demanded that Chiloba must be fired before
a repeat presidential election scheduled for October
26.
The first presidential vote in August, which gave
victory to Kenyatta, was annulled because of
procedural irregularities.
Chiloba said he had taken a personal decision to take
leave in light of the opposition’s demands, without
giving more details.
He said all arrangements were in place for the election,
as ordered by the supreme court.
“This is the first time I‘m taking leave since my son
was born. He turns two years (old) in two weeks’
time,” he was quoted as saying.
The court annulled the first election, held in August
and in which incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta was declared
winner, over procedural irregularities.
The opposition, led by Raila Odinga, has said it will
boycott the rerun unless several demands, including
the sacking of Chiloba, are met.
Odinga met the chairman of the IEBC board, Wafula
Chebukati, on Thursday and later told reporters that if
there were serious consultations and serious reforms,
the opposition could review its boycott.
The board has said the election will go ahead and
Kenyatta has insisted the vote must be held.
On Thursday, the president snubbed an invitation to
meet Chebukati, saying he would instead spend the
time campaigning.
TheCable
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