A petition has been lodged with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) seeking the postponement of the Ol Kalou Constituency by-election slated for July 16, 2026, over allegations of violence, voter intimidation, bribery and misuse of state resources.
The petition, filed by public interest activist Francis Awino, asks the electoral commission to suspend the by-election and conduct investigations into claims that the current campaign environment does not guarantee a free, fair and peaceful election.
Awino argues that reports from residents, community leaders, civil society organisations and the media point to an increasingly tense political atmosphere that could undermine the credibility and integrity of the electoral process.
According to the petition, there have been allegations of political violence, voter intimidation and attempts to influence voters through money and other material inducements. Awino contends that, if proven, such conduct would constitute election offences and violate constitutional principles requiring elections to be conducted free from violence, intimidation, corruption and improper influence.
The petitioner also raises concerns over the alleged involvement of senior state and public officers, including Cabinet Secretaries, in campaign activities, arguing that such participation could breach the constitutional requirement for political neutrality within the public service.
Awino maintains that the combined effect of the alleged electoral malpractices has created an environment that risks compromising the legitimacy of the by-election.
The petition relies on Articles 10, 38, 73, 81, 86, 88 and 232 of the Constitution, as well as Section 55B of the Elections Act, which empowers the IEBC to postpone an election where there is a serious breach of peace, electoral malpractice or other circumstances that make it impossible to conduct a credible poll.
He is seeking orders directing the IEBC to investigate the reported incidents, obtain reports from security agencies, election observers and civil society organisations, and invoke its statutory powers to postpone the July 16 by-election until conditions necessary for a free, fair and peaceful election are restored.
