•The ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi took to Twitter urging Kenyans in the affected parts to come out and exercise their voting rights.
• The ODM governor candidate in Kakamega Fernandes Barasa urged his supporters to remain calm.
Image: MUSALIA MUDAVADI/TWITTER
The suspension of the Kakamega county gubernatorial elections has elicited sharp reactions among the players involved.
The IEBC on Monday suspended elections of Kakamega and Mombasa governor seats over a mix-up in the printing of the ballot papers.
Others affected for similar reasons are Pokot South and Kacheliba constituencies.
The ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi took to Twitter urging Kenyans in the affected parts to come out and exercise their voting rights.
"In spite of the suspension of the Kakamega Gubernatorial election, I urge all voters to turn out in large numbers and vote for all Kenya Kwanza candidates," he tweeted.
"Starting with President William Ruto. The same applies to Mombasa County. The people's choice cannot be defeated. Round one!"
Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala also commented on the suspension, saying it is a minor setback.
"Delayed not denied. The postponement of our gubernatorial election is a minor setback. I take this opportunity to urge all my Supporters to turn out in large numbers tomorrow and vote for William Ruto as President to the last man," he said.
Malala further told his electorates that showing up and voting for Ruto was the only way to protect the Kenya Kwanza votes.
"That is the only way to shame any individual who imagines he/she can deny Kakamegans the leader they deserve. Kesho, operation ni kulinda kura ya William Samoei Ruto. It's not over yet."
The ODM governor candidate in Kakamega Fernandes Barasa however took a softer turn with the news, urging his supporters to remain calm.
Acknowledging the reason leading to the suspension, he also promised to issue a more comprehensive statement on the matter.
"My attention has been drawn to an announcement made by the IEBC Chairman, Mr Wafula Chebukati, on the postponement of the Kakamega Gubernatorial elections to a later date due to errors in the printing of ballot papers. I urge my supporters to remain calm," he said.
Addressing the press at Bomas of Kenya, earlier on Monday, Chebukati said the ballot papers for the aforementioned areas had the wrong images and details of the candidates.
"As a result, elections for the respective positions have been suspended to a later date that shall be announced to a later date through a gazette notice," he said.