Three Petitioners Want Matiang’i Ordered To Declare Monday Public Holiday

Following the postponement of the gubernatorial elections in Mombasa and Kakamega counties, three people have petitioned the Ministry of Interior to make Monday, August 29, a public holiday.

Through their attorney Willis Oluga, the three Mombasa citizens Thani Mohamed, Moses Aran, and Kevin Nzuki argued that because Monday is customarily a working day, the court should permit inhabitants of the aforementioned counties to exercise their democratic right to vote.

According to attorney Oluga, failing to designate Monday a holiday would constitute discrimination against the inhabitants of the aforementioned districts.

To prevent the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) from delaying the elections past August 30, 2022, the petitioners had earlier filed a lawsuit.

Attorney General’s representative, Emmanuel Makuto, insisted that the election date had merely been subject to media reports and that it had not been formally decided. He also indicated that the idea of a national holiday was not on the table.

Prior to rendering his decision on the matter, Justice Stephen Githinji instructed the parties to file their applications.

The IEBC said on Monday that all postponed polls, including the governor elections in Mombasa and Kakamega, would take place on August 29.

The last six elections are for members of the National Assembly and will take place in Kitui Rural (Kitui County), Kacheliba (West Pokot County), Pokot South (West Pokot County), and Rongai (Rongai County) (Nakuru County).

Elections for County Assembly Wards in Kwa Njenga (Embakasi South Constituency – Nairobi County) and Nyaki West were also postponed (North Imenti Constituency – Meru County).

The petition was created in response to Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i’s proclamation making August 9th a holiday during the General Election.