The Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Disputes Tribunal Committee has locked out Kiambu County UDA senatorial candidate Karungo Wa Thang'wa from vying in the August polls.
In a ruling on Sunday, June 19, the tribunal upheld the decision by IEBC that Karungo had been impeached from office and hence unable to run for office.
"Our analysis of the fact and law as presented leads us to the conclusion that the respondent acted within the law to decline the complainant on the account of him having been removed from public office and presenting himself for nomination outside the gazetted terms.
"In light of the foregoing, the committee upholds the decision of the returning officer in declining to nominate the complainant and the complaint is hereby dismissed with no order to cost," the tribunal ruled.
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In a response to the ruling, Karungo said that the IEBC tribunal was dishonest in its ruling promising to challenge the ruling in the High Court.
"The IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee has given a very dishonest ruling. Tukutane High Court. We are not letting go. We are here to stay," Karungo tweeted.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati had earlier disqualified Karungo among other aspirants from running for office on the grounds of being removed from office by impeachment.
"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," Chebukati said.
