IEBC: Full list of Aspirants disqualified from August elections
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has published the names of aspirants disqualified from vying in the August General Election.
IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati made the list public on Saturday saying it had been derived from the 241 names forwarded to the commission by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
Chebukati said that IEBC made the decision of banning the aspirants after vetting.
The vetting of the names was done after the aspirants were grouped under; cases under investigation, prosecution, convicted without appeal and those convicted and pursuing an appeal.
Other sections under investigation are cases of acquitted persons, aspirants lacking required academic qualifications and cases of impeached aspirants.
Chebukati explained that those disqualified were only the contestants who had been convicted without appeals, candidates who had been impeached from office, those without the required academic qualification and the public officers who failed to resign by the stipulated dates.
Candidates disqualified for impeachment
According to the IEBC Chairman the candidates in this section were disqualified on grounds that being ousted from office contravenes Article 75(3) which states: “A person who is removed from office on contravention of Chapter 6 of the Constitution is disqualified from holding any other State or public office whether elective or appointive.”
They incude:
1. Mike Mbuvi Sonko.
The former Nairobi governor who was eyeing the Mombasa gubernatorial seat under the Wiper party ticket was impeached in 2019 on accusations of abuse of office among other charges.
2. Chitavi Antony Mkhala.
Chitavi who was also seeking a stab at the Mombasa gubernatorial contest was charged at the Mombasa Chief Magistrate Anti-Corruption Court in ACC No. 2 of 2009 with three counts of abuse of office and was convicted on three counts in a judgment delivered on 15th December 2011.
3. Paul Karungo Thangwa.
Former Kiambu Youth Executive Karungo Thang’wa was kicked out from office over alleged funds embezzlement. He was seeking the Kiambu Senate seat on a UDA ticket.
Candidates with invalid Academic requirements.
In this section, Chebukati noted that, “Section 22(2) of the Elections Act, called for persons seeking election as President, Deputy President, Governor and Deputy Governor to possess a degree from a university recognized in Kenya and thus the two gubernatorial aspirants were ruled out.
1. Thuo Mathenge
He is vying for the Nyeri Governor seat and was first declared by the court to hold an invalid degree certificate in 2013 and was disqualified from contesting in the 2017 General Election.
2. Ekamais Jeremiah Loromukai. He is contesting for Turkana governor seat.
Candidates convicted but not pursuing an appeal.
1. David Njilithia Mberia. He was seeking the Karen County Assembly seat
Public officers who didn’t resign by 9th February 2022.
Chebukati said the list would be revealed after the close of the registration of candidates as its still being verified by the commission.
