Safina Party Leader called on President William Ruto to respect the Constitution following the High Court ruling on the date of the next General Elections, at his office in Nairobi. [Maryann Muganda, Standard]
Lawyer Willis Otieno and Safina Party leader Jimi Wanjigi have urged President William Ruto and State institutions to respect the Constitution following a High Court ruling declaring August 11, 2026, as the date for Kenya’s next General Election.
The two said the court had settled the dispute over the constitutional timing of the election and argued that logistical challenges facing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) could not be used to extend the political mandate of elected leaders.
Otieno said the Constitution required the presidential election to be held on the second Tuesday of August in every fifth year, arguing that August 11, 2026, was therefore the constitutionally prescribed date. Article 136(2)(a) indeed provides for a presidential election on the same day as the General Election, being the second Tuesday of August in every fifth year.
“This law, when faithfully applied, the presidential elections must be held this year on the 11th of August 2026, and that is what the court has today affirmed,” Otieno said.
The High Court, however, suspended implementation of the ruling to allow IEBC to address logistical and administrative challenges associated with conducting an election next week.
Otieno said the suspension should not be interpreted as permission for State officials to disregard the constitutional election calendar.
“The suspension as per the law should be that you conduct the elections within the shortest time possible to address the logistical and administrative challenges,” he said.