Kasipul: IEBC Vice-Chairperson Fahima Araphat Abdalla has urged Kenyans in the regions scheduled for by-elections in November to maintain peace as campaigning takes place. Ms Abdalla emphasized the importance of candidates managing their campaign activities responsibly and encouraging their supporters to uphold peace.
According to Kenya News Agency, Ms Abdalla made these remarks during her visit to the IEBC offices in Kasipul constituency, Kosele, where she was assisting with candidate registration for the upcoming by-election. She highlighted the objective of her visit as being to support the registration process and to address any logistical challenges that might arise, ensuring fair participation for all Kenyans in the by-elections.
The Vice Chair expressed her gratitude for the security teams' efforts in maintaining order during elections and urged them to remain neutral. She addressed the security personnel, led by Sub County Police Commander Philip Saera, emphasizing that any perceived bias towards a candidate could cause tension.
Ms Abdalla reassured that the commission is prepared for the by-elections, with reports from officials in the 24 areas indicating that everything is proceeding smoothly without any major challenges. She noted the diversity of candidates in Kasipul constituency, with 11 candidates including young people and a woman, and encouraged more participation, including individuals with disabilities.
Ms Abdalla observed that the team of officers on the ground, including Returning Officers, Deputy Returning Officers, and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, are working efficiently to ensure a seamless registration process, with several candidates already cleared.