Mombasa Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) gubernatorial Candidate Adulswamad Shariff Nassir has slammed Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairman (IEBC) Wafula Chebukati for suspending elections in Mombasa County.

Nassir castigated Chebukati for calling off the polls indefinitely, citing harassment and persecution of IEBC officials.

“Postponing the elections in Mombasa is a total abuse of office, such decisions cannot be made by an individual they have to be made by the commission,” Nassir stated.

The ODM candidate further claimed that the IEBC Chairman contravened the Elections Act and that they will move to court to challenge the decision and have the polls conducted on August 23.

“The Elections Act is very clear as well as Article 55, elections can be postponed in the event of peace instability, Natural disaster or breach of malpractice,” Nassir Noted

Chebukati had previously postponed Kakamega and Mombasa Elections during a media briefing, citing a mix-up of candidates’ pictures on the ballot papers.

However, Chebukati has for a second time called off the elections, saying a new date will be announced through a gazette notice.

In a statement on Wednesday, August 17, Chebukati stated that the suspension was due to harassment of the commission staff at Bomas of Kenya on Monday, August 15 where chaos broke out before the declaration of the presidential election results.

“In view of prevailing circumstances, the commission has postponed the by-elections slated for 23rd August 2022, to a date to be announced through a gazette notice,” Chebukati said

The Electoral body had also slated elections in four constituencies Kitui Rural, Kacheliba, Pokot South, and two wards Nyaki West Ward (Meru) and Kwa Njenga (Embakasi South) on August 23 which now stand suspended.

Further, Chebukati claimed that during the announcement of the presidential election results, commissioners Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu and CEO Marjan Marjan were physically assaulted.

The IEBC chairman also called for the arrest and prosecution of those who caused chaos at Bomas of Kenya regardless of their political affiliations.

In a statement on Wednesday, August 17, the National Police Service (NPS) stated that police had launched investigations into the Bomas of Kenya chaos.

“CCTV files have been collected and forwarded for further forensic analysis to aid investigation,” read part of NPS statement.