[Opposition supporters at a past January 2017 event. Photo/VOA News]
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has issued a stern warning to aspirants, even as party primaries go on.
They have been asked to desist from cases of violence, and ensure peaceful elections.
Below is a statement from the agency, over the same, issued Tuesday, April 25, 2017:
''It has come to the Commission’s knowledge that there are rising cases of violence and intolerance during the ongoing political party primaries.
We want to strongly condemn any acts of violence and intolerance and we call upon all political parties and aspirants to conduct themselves peacefully during the party primaries and also during the entire election period. The Commission is keenly watching and any perpetrators will be dealt with according to law.
We want to remind political parties and the aspirants that they are bound by the Electoral Code of Conduct and we will impose sanctions against candidates and political parties found who contravene the code.
Further, we have worked out mechanisms for preventing and punishing criminal activities during elections through an inter-agency collaboration with the National Council on the Administration of Justice, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), Kenya National Police Service and the Judiciary.
The Commission is making every effort to ensure that the process leading to the August 08, 2017 General Election is fair, free, transparent and inspires confidence and trust.
W.W CHEBUKATI CHAIRMAN''