A three-judge bench at the High Court has temporarily halted the swearing in of nominated county assembly ward candidates after a gender commission raised issue with the composition of the nominees.

The National Gender and Equity Commission obtained an order from Justices Isaac Lenaola, Mumbi Ngugi and David Majanja that barred the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) from gazetting the names of 32 nominees to the county assembly.

The gender commission cited articles 90, 97 (1) ©, 98 (1) (b) ©, and 177 all which stipulate the composition of the nominees to the county assembly.

The nominated seats are reserved for women, the disabled, marginalised groups, minority groups and other special groups. The commission however has said that parties have nominated their cronies in contravention of the constitution.

The High Court will determine the case on March 25. Elected candidates to the county assembly will however be sworn in tomorrow as had been announced by the IEBC.