LSK releases February 6 elections guidelines

By ROSELYNE OBALA

NAIROBI, KENYA: The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has released guidelines for its scheduled elections on February 6 to be conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The organization has also listed twenty five polling centers, which shall be at the High Court or Law Court buildings countrywide.

The Electorate will vote from any of polling centers regardless of where they are based, while the Returning Officer (RO) is expected to communicate the unopposed position on January 21, 2014 to the members.

LSK Chief Executive Officer Apollo Mboya emphasized that the electorate will be required to produce a National Identification Card (ID), passport or LSK membership card to participate in the exercise.

“The voters must produce any of the identification document listed to be allowed to vote or they will be locked out,” stressed the CEO.

He explained that IEBC dispute resolution mechanisms shall apply in the election.

Mboya explained that the register of members will contain the names of 6,037 eligible voters who held the year 2013 Practicing Certificate ending 31st December 2013.

“The register has been forwarded to members for inspection. Any omissions or correction must be brought to the attention of LSK Secretariat to reach us by Thursday January 30 2014,” Mboya explained.

Nairobi County for instance will have two polling centres, Supreme Court and Milimani Court, while others centres include, Kisumu, Mombasa, Malindi, Machakos, Bungoma, Kakamega, Nakuru, Kisii, Kitale, Eldoret, Meru, Kericho, Kitui, Kerugoya, Homabay, Thika Muranga,Nyahururu, Mumias, Embu, Busia, Nyeri and Migori.

Mboya disclosed that the ballot papers for the elective position shall have a different colour, security features such as water marks, serial numbers, names and photos of the candidates.

“The six elective positions will have different colours to enable the voters to easily identify each post and ensure they have marked all,” he said.

Mboya affirmed that Pursuant to Section 57(1) (c) of the Advocates Act one of the disciplinary committee members shall be an advocate who does not ordinarily practice in Nairobi.