City elections put on hold

The by-elections to fill vacant positions within districts in Kigali and the City Hall have been postponed, The New Times has learnt. The elections to replace Mayors who recently resigned leaving loopholes in the advisory councils of Mageragere and Kimironko sectors in Nyarugenge and Gasabo Districts had earlier been slated for December 19 and 23 respectively.

Sunday, December 20, 2009
Former Nyarugenge mayor Origene Rutayisire. By-elections to replace him and Claudine Nyinawagaga of Gasabo have been postponed

The by-elections to fill vacant positions within districts in Kigali and the City Hall have been postponed, The New Times has learnt.

The elections to replace Mayors who recently resigned leaving loopholes in the advisory councils of Mageragere and Kimironko sectors in Nyarugenge and Gasabo Districts had earlier been slated for December 19 and 23 respectively.

Bruno Rangira, KCC Director of Media and Communications confirmed the changes in a telephone interview yesterday.

Rangira said that the elections were postponed following a request made by the National Electoral Commission (NEC).

"The electoral commission postponed the elections because it would not be ready by those dates,” Rangira said. "There are some people still submitting their candidatures, therefore, postponing it was vital.”

He added that the elections are set for early next month but no official dates have been fixed.

Former Mayors of Nyarugenge and Gasabo Districts, Origene Rutayisire and Claudine Nyinawagaga respectively who were councilors of the above sectors resigned last month citing personal reasons. 

Close to 10 city employees have been sacked since September, mostly on corruption allegations.

They include Dieudonne Nkulikiyinka, the Executive Secretary of Kigali City, the City engineer, Solomon Karimunda, Emmanuel Ruziga, the Executive Secretary of Kicukiro District and the entire tender committee of Gasabo District.

Ends