Independent electoral and boundaries commission (IEBC) says it will not extend the 72 hours deadline it had granted the Wiper party to present an alternative candidate for the Mombasa governor Race.

Wiper party, which had nominated former Nairobi Governor Sonko, was given 72 hours by IEBC to replace Sonko in the Mombasa race, after the city governor was blocked by the dispute resolution committee.

The 72 hours deadline expires today, Thursday.

But IEBC vice chair Juliana Cherera has stated that IEBC will clear the former city governor only if the high court directs  the commission to do so.

Sonko has appealed a case at the High court after he was blocked to contest in the Mombasa governor Race

Cherera made the remarks while  addressing journalists shortly before flagging off a peace caravan in Mombasa, in conjunction with the registrar of political parties Ann Nderitu.

“If the 72 hours are over we will follow the law, we will not extend the deadline, but if he has gone to high court we will heed to the court decision or whatever outcome it will direct us to do,” said Cherera.

IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee upheld the decision of the Mombasa returning officer Sala Yusuf to disqualify Sonko since he was impeached as Nairobi Governor.

The court also said Sonko did not produce an original degree certificate from Kenya Methodist University and when he did, it was past the set down deadline.

At the same time Cherera said a  meeting with political parties scheduled for next week will determine whether to revert to the manual voter identification register or not, during voting in the August 9 general elections.

Cherera yesterday said the electoral agency has invited political parties to discuss the stalemate, citing too much pressure from them.

“We are planning a meeting next week where we will sit together with political parties to deliberate on this matter and see if it is a must we use the hard copy register, how can we ensure we seal loopholes of ballot stuffing using the hardcopy register,” said Cherera.

Cherera said the commission will have no option than to listen to the majority of the voices. She said parties had requested that we revert to the hardcopy register and said it will only revert to the hardcopy register once satisfied with recommendations from political parties.

Cherera said IEBC  is ready to deliver credible polls. She asked political parties to ensure they have a reliever to their agents in an event that one gets sick or is fatigued.

"This matter of manual register, we want to ask political candidates if this manual register has been used to pave way to ballot staffing, we ask you to come with a solution on how we can solve that, because iebc is clear that ballot stuffing is the problem,” added commissioner Francis Wanderi.

Cherera also asked the public to remain united and avoid political chaos. Cherera who was accompanied by Commissioner Francis Wanderi reiterated that the commission is ready to handle elections and will deliver a credible process.

"We are ready  to hold elections and as people we need to stay united. Our diversity should not be a reason to divide us,” said Cherera.

The office of the registrar of political parties Led by  Ann Nderitu said the political party law has brought sanity and fairness in the political space.

"We used to have unfairness in the parties, but now with the new law, part is reaping big, when the law was not changed, there were no negotiations but now parties can negotiate and get their favorite candidate, “said Nderitu.

Nderitu said in the just concluded nomination the country experienced minimal disputes owing to the fairness and new criteria provided by the new law.

"We used to have a lot of wrangles and chaos in the nomination process, but now we have seen minimal numbers of post nomination disputes because of the law,” said Nderitu.

The registrar has deployed over 350 monitors in counties to monitor whether political parties adhere to the election code of conduct ahead of polls.

"We have deployed over 350 monitors countrywide to ensure parties adhere to the code of conduct, where they report any illegality so that we can administer disciplinary actions,"Nderitu said.

The registrar warned political parties against political incitement and hate speech that may cause political Nderitu asked electorates to avoid profiling women candidates, instead should let them sell their agendas.

"We are warning against destruction of political posters because it is a right for candidates to advertise themselves, we also ask people not to profile women candidates who are seeking political positions,” said Nderitu.

She was speaking in Mombasa when the Political party’s liaison committee was meeting elections stakeholders in Mombasa to deliberate on the election preparedness ahead of the August 9 polls.

Changamwe police boss David Mathew said they will work together with election monitors to ensure protection of civilians and election officers.

"We are more than prepared to protect and ensure safety during before and after the general elections, we have deployed enough police officers to man the situation,” said Mathew.