Bomas Of Kenya Reshuffled Ahead Of President-Elect Announcement [WATCH LIVE]

In addition, security outside the auditorium- and inside the auditorium, has been beefed up, with several police officers manning the space

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Aug 15, 2022 - 08:23 Updated: Aug 15, 2022 - 09:18
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The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is likely to announce the winner of the presidential elections today as the National Tallying Centre at the Bomas Of Kenya was reorganised on Monday, August 15.

Photos shared on social media showed the huge number of desks that have been predominant during the vote-tallying process removed and replaced with four tables joined into one straight line. It is anticipated that the top IEBC officials will be seated there.

In addition, security outside the auditorium- and inside the auditorium, has been beefed up, with several police officers manning the space between the seating area and the area surrounding the dais and heavily armed officers protecting the environs and the entrance.

Heavy security at the Bomas of Kenya ahead of the President-elect announcement. /FILE

Citizen TV’s Francis Gachuri who is at the National Tallying Centre disclosed that the commissioners are only remaining with 32 constituencies whose results will be announced.

“It is almost a done deal. 259 constituency results so far verified, validated and declared, what remains is about 32 constituencies,” he said.

Given that the announcement of the results from the 291 constituencies has been conducted at a rapid pace, it is highly likely that the president-elect could be announced today.

He also said that the busy operations at the verification desks witnessed in the last six days were coming to a close at Bomas of Kenya and the environment was calmer.

“Those 32 constituency results have already been verified and validated, all that we are waiting for is the commissioners to come and declare those results publicly and tell Kenyans how those constituencies voted,” Gachuri explained.

IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati is also in the process of completing Form 34C which tabulates the results of the presidential candidates into a single document.

After the announcement of the results, Chebukati will then hand over Form 34D to the president-elect as a certificate showing their victory.

According to official results by the IEBC as of Monday, August 15 at 11.12 am, if Deputy President William Ruto of the Kenya Kwanza maintains his lead over Raila Odinga of the Azimio la Umoja coalition, he could be declared the winner today.

The remaining candidates have to meet the following criteria to be declared the 5th President of Kenya; An overall of 50 per cent + 1 vote and 25 per cent in 24 counties.

Both the coalition camps have a chance to petition the results at the Supreme Court of Kenya if Chebukati's official announcement goes against their expectations. Both of them declared that their candidates have won in a water-tight race that could go to the wire.

According to the Constitution of Kenya, Chebukati has until Tuesday, August 16 to announce the winner.

Either Ruto, Raila or George Wajackoyah of the Roots Party will have to file a petition challenging the election results, within seven days from the date of declaration by the IEBC.

After being served, the winner will have four days to file a response to the petition and the loser will be given 24 hours to file a rejoinder. A rejoinder may include a response to the new facts raised by the winner in their submissions.

Both parties will be given two days to ask the judges to make specific orders to help their cases, by commanding something to be done or prohibiting it. This will be followed by applications by third parties to be enjoined as friends of the court (amicus curiae), which is expected to take one day.

The Supreme Court will then be required to convene a pre-trial conference within eight days from the filing of the petition. A pre-trial conference provides an informal setting for all parties and the Judge to: identify the facts that are agreed upon or are in dispute; clarify the issues between the parties; and. attempt to reach a resolution by way of a voluntary agreement.

Chief Justice Martha Koome. /STANDARD DIGITAL

The judges will then be required to hear the election dispute petition immediately after the pre-trial conference and proceed to deliver a judgement within 14 days of the filing of the petition.

In the event the results are contested, all eyes will be on Chief Justice Martha Koome in delivering the determination.

Scroll up to watch live proceedings courtesy of Citizen TV

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