[IEBC officials in a past event. SDA Church has written to the commission demanding cancellation of Saturday’s planned voting in Nyanza. Photo/Nation]
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has yet again been hit by tough challenges over Saturday's planned repeat polls in four counties.
Chairman Wafula Chebukati had cancelled elections in Siaya, Migori, Kisumu and Homabay, rescheduling them to Saturday, a move that has been opposed by the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
"The SDA church has looked at your presser and observed that you haSaturday in four critical regions," read the statement by Dr. Samuel Makori.
The commission had invoked regulation 55 of the IEBC that gives the chairman power to postpone elections in regions that face challenges.
For the past two months, residents of the four counties have been engaging police in running battles after opposition leader Raila Odinga called for cancellation of October elections.
"This arrangement will infringe their rights to vote. We request that you move the voting to another day other than Saturday," added the statement.
Predominantly, the former Nyanza region is dominated by SDA faithfuls who sets aside Saturday for worshiping.
The new turnout of events could yet again through IEBC to drawing board given that Sunday will also be a worshiping day.ve scheduled voting to