Kenya elections; Winner to be declared within 24hours-IEBC

Kenya elections; Winner to be declared within 24hours-IEBC

Kenya’s IEBC has announced plans to announce August 9th election results within 24hours after ballots are cast. IEBC Chairman, Wafula Chebukati made the announcement Tuesday.

The new directive is meant to curb down on tension that results from delaying results  and allay any fears of foul play as it happened in previous hours. IEBC chairman, Wafula Chebukati said in a press briefing in Nairobi

According to the electoral chief the highly contested race winner will be announced by 4.30 pm on Wednesday, August 9.

The 41,000 polling stations in Kenya will announce their results after tabulation then forward them to constituencies. The IEBC will immediately receive results from the 290 constituencies, tabulate and cross-check if any of the candidates crosses the 50+1 threshold

IEBC Chairman, Wafula Chebukati will then declare the results by 4.30pm on August 9.

The commission on Tuesday July 25, said it will not give periodic updates of the presidential results but will give a sum total from all constituencies.

In a recent court ruling it was directed that the presidential results be announced first with the constituency results being final, Though Kenya’s Constitution allows the electoral body a period of 7 days to announce the results.

In 2013, it took IEBC 5 tenacious days to announce Uhuru Kenyatta president, while in the highly contested 2007, it took 4 days to declare Mwai Kibaki  final winner.