The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) through its lawyer George Murugu has said that it ‘hurriedly’ announced the Presidential results following concerns over the safety of its staff.

He said that the commission made the decision not to announce the remaining 27 constituencies despite being tallied and verified.

He said the results were ready for an announcement by Professor Abdi Guliye but due to the looming threat, they chose to announce the presidential results alone. 

Murugu added that the constant harassment that the commission’s staff had faced which included arrest and intimidation is what led to the decision.

“He [Chebukati] made considerations concerning the security of his staff who are that particular point in time were suffering arrest, abductions and injuries to officials including commissioners,” he said.

Murugu is representing the commission's chairperson Wafula Chebukati in the petition said that the results.

As to why IEBC rushed to announce the results yet they had one more day, he said that the mandate to tally and verify the results by the commission had been carried out and given the security concerns and that they had announced to Kenyans that the presidential results would be released on that day.

Responding to a question posed by Justice Njoki Ndung’u on the meaning of the term commission, Murugu said that it depends on the context in which it is used. 

He said that some of the roles of the commissioners are oversight, strategy and policy and that the role of the secretariat is to deal with administrative issues of day-to-day operations of IEBC and execution of policies.

He defended Chebukati, saying that he was not an all-powerful figure and that if he was to be incapacitated and not in a position to announce the presidential results, the commission is involved in the whole process of verification of results which means he has no role to act outside his mandate.

He said that the four commissioners who said that they could not take ownership of the presidential results and that they had been given other roles, were the same ones who were announcing some of the results from different constituencies. By Fred Kagonye , The Standard

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said it is currently working with eight African countries to monitor clinical trials of traditional medicine-based therapeutics proposed for COVID-19.

Some of the countries are Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana and Madagascar 

It stated that as part of efforts to advance continental efforts towards equitable access to medical products and technologies, all but eight African member states are now engaged in large-scale cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants.

In a message to mark the African Traditional Medicine Day 2022, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said 19 countries have also established facilities for the local manufacturing of herbal medicines, with the number of herbal medicines registered by national regulatory authorities in 14 countries increasing from just 20 in 2000, to more than 100 this year.

 She said: “WHO in the African Region has supported joint missions with partners to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Madagascar, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda, to monitor clinical trials of traditional medicine-based therapeutics proposed for COVID-19, eight of which are ongoing.” 

She said the political will to be displayed by countries to support the innovations had been inspiring, just as the level of available infrastructure and skills.

According to Moeti, more than 45 herbal medicines now feature on national essential medicines lists.

The WHO scribe noted that the yearly commemorative activities have helped to create awareness that prompted more than 40 African countries to develop national traditional medicine policies by 2022, up from only eight in 2000.

“Thirty countries have also integrated traditional medicine into their national policies, a 100 per cent improvement on the situation in 2000. Additionally, 39 countries have established regulatory frameworks for traditional medicine practitioners, compared to only one in 2000, demonstrating good governance and leadership. 

“On the African Traditional Medicine Day today, I call on governments to strengthen collaboration between science, technology and innovation institutions; traditional health practitioners and the private sector, to fast-track research and development, and local manufacturing of traditional medicine-based therapeutics for the health and well-being of Africa’s people,” she said.  By Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja. ThisDay

Ballots from 15 polling stations in four counties have been delivered for a recount as ordered by the Supreme Court.

The ballots were delivered on Wednesday morning August 31, 2022, by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials accompanied by police.

Supreme Court ordered recount in 15 polling stations

During a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday August 30, 2022, the Supreme Court ordered a recount of votes in 15 polling stations in four counties ahead of the hearing of the consolidated presidential petition.

In orders issued on Tuesday, the seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice Martha Koome directed IEBC to open ballot boxes in the affected regions for inspection, scrutiny and vote recount.

The polling stations include; Nandi Hills and Sinendeti Primary School in Nandi, Belgut, Kapsuser and Chepkutum Primary Schools in Kericho County; Jomvi, Mikindani and Ministry of Water Tanks Polling Stations in Mombasa County; Mvita, Majengo and Mvita Primary Schools in Mombasa County; Tinderet CONMO, in Nandi County; Jarok, Gathanji and Kiheo Primary School Polling in Nyandarua County. 

The court also ordered scrutiny of forms 34A transmitted through the KIEMS kits from the polling stations in the elections held on August 9.

The inspection and vote count report will be tabled before the court at 2:00 pm, Thursday, August 31.

"Each Party shall be represented by two agents during the exercises above and they shall at times be under the supervision of the Registrar of the court and her staff," the orders read in part.

"The Registrar shall file her report by 5 pm on 1st September 2022 and avail copies to all parties." By Martin Oduor, PD