The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced that plans are underway to ensure the Migori senatorial and Sakwa Central ward by-elections slated for October 8 are held successfully.
According to a statement posted on its website on September 6, IEBC said it would start training electoral officials on September 17.
“Training of poll officials for the county senate and Central Sakwa in Siaya county by-elections will be conducted as follows; top level officials — the trainers of trainers, returning officers and deputy returning officers — will be held between Monday, September 17 and Friday, September 28,” read the statement.
The training of presiding and deputy presiding officers and electoral clerks would be conducted between October 1 and October 6.
IEBC announced it would only consider individuals who had previously managed elections as poll officials. “The electoral body will recruit temporary poll officials from list of officials who have previously been employed to conduct elections,” the statement added.
The electoral body has also put in place plans to ensure the by-elections are peaceful and free of disruptions.
“The commission is engaging with security agencies to ensure that the by-elections are not only free and fair but also peaceful. The IEBC’s returning officials will make arrangements with education officials to ensure minimum disruptions to learning where schools are used as polling stations,” IEBC further stated.
The six candidates cleared to run for the senatorial seat include Mr Ochilo Ayacko of Orange Democratic Movement, Mr Ogola Dickson (Independent), Mr Jobando Peter Osieko (Green Congress Party), Mr Oketch Eddy Gichuru (Federal Party of Kenya), Mr Otieno Samuel Otieno (Independent) and Mr Rugaria Solomon Hodo (People’s Democratic Party).