Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has suffered a major blow after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) disqualified him from contesting for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat in the August polls.
Addressing the press on Saturday, June 4, IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati announced that all aspirants who have previously been impeached from public office stand disqualified from contesting in the oncoming general polls.
As a result, the IEBC automatically disqualified Mike Sonko who had been impeached during his tenure as the Governor of Nairobi County.
The IEBC's axe also felt on former Kiambu Chief Executive Committee Member for Youth Karungo wa Thang’wa who was set to vie for the Kiambu Senate seat on a UDA ticket. Former Chief Executive Officer by Malindi Water and Sewerage Company Ltd Chitavi Mkala has also been locked out of the race.
"The reason for disqualification is because such persons have been removed from office for abuse of public office. The Commission’s position is that Article 75 of the Constitution is self-speaking and self-executing, therefore the three aspirants who have been removed from public office are disqualified from contesting in the elections," stated Chebukati.
Read More
Despite this, the IEBC chair clarified that those with active cases in court and those who have launched appeals will be spared by the commission.
He added that a similar presumption of innocent until proven guilty will also apply to those being investigated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
