The chief executive of Kenya’s election board said on Friday he was taking three weeks on leave ahead of next week Thursday repeat presidential elections.
The opposition has continuously demanded that he must be fired, accusing him of mismanaging the August 8 elections.
According to sources close to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Mr Chiloba took a “personal decision to be away in order to build confidence in stakeholders” who had complained about commission officials, local newspaper, the Daily Nation reports.
Speaking to Reuters, Chiloba said that this is the first time he is taking leave after his son was born. The son turns two years in two weeks’ time.
President Uhuru Kenyatta was pronounced winner of the August 8 election but the Supreme Court nullified the elections citing irregularities, called for a rerun within 60 days.
The opposition, led by Raila Odinga, has said it will boycott the re-run unless several demands, including the sacking of Chiloba, are met, the report said.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday moved to court to sue opposition leader Raila Odinga for contempt of court over their no elections call.
The president’s case against Odinga is the latest twist in a series of political happenings that have created uncertainty ahead of the October 26 vote.
The board has said the election will go ahead and Kenyatta has insisted the vote must be held.
