The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has barred former Nairobi Governor, Mike Mbuvi Sonko, from contesting for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat.
IEBC chairperson, Wafula Chebukati, stated that a person who is removed from office on grounds of violating Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya is barred from contesting.
Sonko was barred alongside Kiambu Senatorial hopeful, Paul Karungo Wa Thang’wa, who was impeached by the Kiambu County Assembly shortly after his then boss, Kiambu Governor, Ferdinand Waititu, was impeached.
Chebukati stated that Sonko and other impeached leaders are also barred from any appointive roles in the government.
IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati addresses 2022 presidential aspirants at a pre-candidate registration meeting at the
Bomas of Kenya on Monday, May 23, 2022
IEBC
“The 3 aspirants who were impeached are disqualified from contesting. A person who is removed from office on contravention of chapter 6 of the constitution is disqualified from holding office, elective or appointed,” Chebukati explained.
IEBC, however, cleared aspirants who have cases under investigation to contest in the August 9 polls saying that they can only be barred from contesting once convicted by a court of law.
“Cases of aspirants under investigation are 11; one presidential aspirant and 10 gubernatorial aspirants They are not disqualified by law and may contest, in keeping with the presumption of innocence until proven guilty,” IEBC chair remarked.
In the case of aspirants who are battling cases in court, the IEBC stated that those with active ongoing cases will be allowed to run.
It also cleared those convicted but with active appeals in courts of law. In this case, Sirisia MP, John Waluke, was cleared to contest in the upcoming polls.
Acquitted persons have also been cleared to run, with Chebukati noting that they are qualified to contest.
The Commission also noted that one gubernatorial aspirant was disqualified for failure to produce a valid degree certificate.
More to follow…