- Commission secretary and CEO Hussein Marjan said delays occasioned by “unprecedented logistical hitches in the production and delivery of election materials”.
- He assured afrmers and all stakeholders that the commission is committed to ensuring that the elections are free, fair, and credible.
Image: FILE
Electoral agency IEBC has postponed to Saturday the election of directors in 50 of the 54 smallholder tea factories which were to be held on Friday across 15 counties.
Commission secretary and CEO Hussein Marjan said in a statement the elections did not happen in the affected electoral areas due to “unprecedented logistical hitches in the production and delivery of election materials”.
“The exercise commenced in Momul, Tegat/Toror, Litein/Chelal, Kapkatet/Tebesonik and Kapkoros/Tirgaga/Motigo Olenguruone in Chesoen, Sibaiyan, Olenguruone and Mugango/Kiromwok electoral areas,” he said.
Elections in these areas closed at 7 pm as opposed to 3 pm as they started at 11 am, four behind schedule.
The Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA) had earlier notified farmers of the delay occasioned by the logistical hiccup.
“Voting will commence immediately after the electoral materials are delivered to the polling stations. Inconveniences arising from this delay are highly regretted and we assure all tea farmers that they will be allowed to cast their ballot today,” KTDA said.
Marjan regretted any inconvenience caused by the postponement and assured farmers that polls in areas where voting did not commence has been moved to Saturday.
“This is therefore, to inform our esteemed farmers, candidates, observers, stakeholders and the public that the elections in the affected areas have been postponed to tomorrow Saturday, June 29, 2024, between 7 am and 3 pm,” he said.
“The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission assures all its stakeholders that it is committed to ensuring that the elections are free, fair, and credible,” the CEO added.
He said the electoral areas affected are Kambaa, Kagwe, Gachege, Mataara, Ngere, Njunu, Nduti, Makomboki, Ikumbi, Gacharage, Kanyenyaini, Githambo, Kiru, Gatunguru Gitugi, Iriaini, Ragati, Chinga, Gathuthi, Kimunye, Thumaita, Ndima, Kangaita, Mununga, Rukuriri, Kathangariri and Mungania.
Others are Weru, Kinoro, Kionyo, Imenti, Githongo, Mickimikuru, Kiegoi, Kapset/Rorok, Gianchore, Nyansiongo/Matunwa, Tombe/Sombogo, Nyankoba, Kebirigo, Sanganyi, Ogembo,/Eberege, Kiamokama/Rianyamwamu, Nyamache/Itumbe, Mudete, Kapsara, Chebut/Kaptumo, Mogogosiek/Boito/Kobel and Kapkoros/Tirgaga/ Motigo/Olenguruone in Ndaraweta, Ndaraweta, Singorwet and Tegat/Chemaner.
The elections follow a court directive issued on April 11 this year following wrangles between KTDA and former directors.
IEBC's supervision of the polls is part of the ongoing reforms in the tea sub-sector.
The commission will handle dispute resolution functions that may emerge from the process.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi assured the farmers that the exercise would be free and fair.
“Our resolve is to facilitate free and fair elections, for the will of the farmers and shareholders of these factories is represented through the elections,” he said at Kilimo House on Thursday.
Farmers eligible to vote must be on the tea factory's voters' register and present their national identity card and a green leaf delivery pay slip for any month between June 2023 and May 2024.
Contrary to the previous system where votes were based on shareholding, one farmer will only represent one vote.