The High Court has ruled that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) shall include photographs or images of deputy presidents and deputy governors in the ballot papers for the August elections.

This is pending the hearing and determination of a petition filed by one Mugambi Imanyara against the IEBC.

Justice Anthony Mrima made the ruling on Wednesday in the presence of the Senior Counsel for Imanyara and the counsel for the electoral body.

“THAT pending the hearing and determination of the Petition herein, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission shall include the photograph or images of the persons who were nominated as Deputy Presidents and Deputy Governors in the ballot papers to be used in the General Election to be held on 9 August 2022,” Mrima ruled.

Mrima also ruled that the respondents and the interested party shall file and serve responses to the main petition within 5 days.

IEBC usually prints only photos of presidential and gubernatorial candidates on the ballot papers and their party symbols.

Mrima said that IEBC can still comply with the court order since the printing of the ballot papers which was scheduled for Thursday is yet to start.

“Since the printing exercise is yet to begin, the Respondent can still comply with the Order of the Court. It is for this reason that the application for stay is declined,” the court ruled.

Raila Odinga’s ODM party has also been listed as an interested party in the petition.