The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman said this following Wednesday’s ruling that gave Sonko a lifeline.
Judges Olga See, Ann Ong’injo, and Stephen Githiniji claimed that Sonko’s rights had been violated by the electoral commission and ordered the IEBC to register him for the election.
Following the decision, the IEBC said that they would file an appeal.
However, Chebukati stated in an interview on Wednesday that the commission will not appeal the ruling because of severe time constraints, including the need to print ballots.
“On Sonko’s ruling, it will have to be enforced and complied with. But that notwithstanding, I’m aware the issue around impeachment is at the Supreme Court and will be heard perhaps tomorrow (Thursday). In future, there will be clarity along that line,” Chebukati said.
He said the printing of all ballot papers will be completed by Friday, July 15 and moving to court over the decision will be a setback.
“As a commission how we operate, we follow the law and implement court orders as they come. We don’t have a choice on that. With 26 days to the election, we must finish printing ballot papers. Actually, we are even late in making changes to the ballot papers,” Chebukati noted
Sonko’s prior impeachment was the reason Chekubati had earlier disqualified him from the race.
After that, the IEBC decided to clear and gazette seven candidates for the Mombassa governor’s office: Abdulswamad Nassir (ODM), Hezron Awiti (VDP), Hassan Omar (UDA), William Kingi (PAA), Daniel Kitsao (Independent), Shafii Makazi (UPIA), and Said Abdhalla (Usawa).
