[A section of IEBC officials in a past event. Chairperson Consolata Maina has been given powers to conduct the Thursday’ s poll. Photo/Nation]
The independent Electoral and boundaries Commission (IEBC) has appointed deputy chairperson Consolata Maina as the Deputy National Returning Officer in the Thursday's presidential repeat poll.
Under the current law, only Chairman Wafula Chebukati has jurisdictions to announce presidential results as National Returning Officer but the position may have changed.
A memo seen by the Standard indicates that commissioners assigned Ms. Maina new roles amid cracks within the commission.
Interestingly, the memo is signed by Chebukati, an indication that the move has his full blessings.
Moments after commissioner Roselyne Akombe bolted out of the commission citing external interference, Chebukati admitted that the current political situation may not enable him to conduct free and fair polls.
In her resignation, Akombe claimed that the chairman was under siege from a section of commissioners who are reportedly taking instructions from politicians.
On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen claimed that chebukati could be moving to Supreme Court to stop the polls.
The lastest twist of events further casts doubts about the legitimacy of the Thursday's poll which the opposition leader Raila odinga has since withdrawn.
It also means Ms. Maina can go ahead and declare the winner should the elections take place.