Ruto party in dilemma after Kiambu Senate aspirant moves to IEBC tribunal
Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) campaign for the Kiambu Senate seat is in limbo after its candidate was left looking for options to keep him in the August 9 race.
Karungo Thang’wa was disqualified over reasons said to be linked to his impeachment by the Kiambu County Assembly while he served as the Youth Affairs County Executive in Ferdinard Waititu’s administration.
“They are not giving any reasons. I ask the people of Kiambu to pray for me. I will not take it lying down,” said Thang’wa after Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials declined to clear him on Tuesday evening.
“I will be announcing my next move in two days. I will deal with this matter legally,” said the aspirant.
County Returning Officer Arnold Mutwiri advised the former Ward Rep to seek redress with IEBC’s dispute resolution team.
Thangw’a was on October 29, 2019 impeached by County Assembly for “incompetence, abuse of office and gross misconduct.”
He was to compete against Limuru politician George Maara of Jubilee, Governor James Nyoro’s former head of service delivery John Mugwe (Independent) and ex-State House political affairs director Machel Waikenda of Chama Cha kazi. The race has also attracted Alice Gathekia of William Kabogo’s Tujibebe Party and George Njoroge (Safina).
Chief Justice Martha Koome and IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati have declared that aspirants who have been impeached will not be cleared.
“You remain impeached until that impeachment is lifted. When you are sentenced, you are sentenced until the sentence is set aside,” said the Chief Justice.
Thang’wa moved to court in a bid to overturn his impeachment but the High Court upheld it.
However, those facing criminal charges, or whose conviction is the subject of active appeals, have been cleared to vie.
Article 75 of the Constitution says: “A person who has been dismissed or otherwise removed from office for a contravention of the provisions specified in clause (2) (relating to abuse of office) is disqualified from holding any other State office.”
Thang’wa comes from Githunguri in Kiambu Central whereas Waikenda and Gathekia are from Kiambu East.
If regional balance comes into play, aspirants from Kiambu West, among them Maara, Mugwe and Njoroge are likely to share the spoils and so are those from the eastern region.
