Kenya: Kenya to hold by-elections in June

Kenya is to hold five parliamentary by-elections in June, six months after polls that sparked nationwide unrest, officials said Friday.

Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) chief Samuel Kivuitu said the elections will be held on June 11.

The Ainamoi and Embakasi constituencies fell vacant after their lawmakers were killed after the December 27 election. The Emuhaya constituency fell vacant after its representative was elected parliament speaker.

There was no winner in Wajir East after two rival candidates tied in the final results and in Kilgoris, the ECK refused to release results after hooligans invaded the counting hall and chased away officials.

Widespread violence in which at least 1,500 people were killed erupted after opposition leader Raila Odinga accused President Mwai Kibaki of rigging the election.

Odinga has since been named prime minister under a power sharing accord mediated by former UN chief Kofi Annan.

Source: FOCUS News Agency

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