Mixed fortunes for aspirants as IEBC publishes ballot list
The list of candidates published by the electoral agency in the latest ‘Gazette Notice’ is a mix of fortunes and misses for some candidates.
In Kiambu, United Democratic Alliance’s (UDA) senatorial nominee Karungo Thangw’ah (right) is among those missing in the names published on July1. Wiper Party’s Mike Sonko, who was seeking the Mombasa governorship, suffered a similar fate after his name was left out.
Both Karungo and Sonko have cases pending in court in which they are seeking to overturn the electoral body’s decision to lock them out.
In the Nairobi gubernatorial contest, the UDA nominee Johnson Sakaja, who has issues over his university degree papers, finally got his name in the IEBC list of gazetted candidates.
Ms Beatrice Chepng’eno Kemei, UDA’s aspirant for the Kericho Woman Rep position has made history in the 2022 elections after she was cleared unopposed.
Deputy President William Ruto recently revelled in Kemei’s election when it became clear she didn’t have an opponent, saying it showed how popular the party was. He said this last month when he signed a women charter.
In Kiambu, the senatorial race will now be between seven candidates whose names are on the list, unless the IEBC decision is overturned by court. They include Caroline Makena (Kenya National Congress), Alice Gathekia (Tujibebe), George Maara (Jubilee), John Mugwe (Independent), Machel Waikenda (CCK), George Njoroge, (Safina) and Joseph Kamau (Usawa Kwa Wote).
In the Kiambu governorship contest, the incumbent James Nyoro (Jubilee) will be facing six opponents. They are Mwende Gatabaki (Safina), William Kabogo (Tujibebe), Patrick Wainaina - ‘Jungle’ (Independent), Kimani Wamatangi (UDA), Moses Kuria (CCK) and Agnes Ndung’u.
“Even before the election we already have a successful Woman Rep of Kericho…there are already clear signs that we will have the most-elected women in the next Parliament coming from Kenya Kwanza,” said Ruto, when he signed a women charter last month.
