Two turned away from presidential race over signatures
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) yesterday turned away two presidential hopefuls as it started clearing contenders for the August 9 election.
The first aspirant to face the Wafula Chebukati-led panel was Peter Mumbiko King’ori. He was turned away for failing to get the requisite signatures, as well as his running-mate for failing to get clearance from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
IEBC only certified 65 signatures as valid. It wants the aspirants to get at least 47,935 signatures with copies of IDs by tomorrow (Tuesday) 5pm to be cleared.
King’ori told People Daily that the electoral body had given him until May 31, 2022, to submit the top-up signatures and that his running mate should get the necessary nod from the anti-graft body. “I have not been cleared because my running-mate did not get a certificate from the EACC. We have been told that our signatures were also not enough and we are now racing against time to get the necessary documents by Tuesday,” said King’ori.
Justice and Freedom Party presidential hopeful Justus Juma also faced the commission but was not cleared for what he termed ‘confusion’ between the party list and the list of supporters. Juma said he met all other requirements except on the list of supporters presented.
Good to go
“We have not been cleared because the list in the IEBC system is different from the list of supporters we have presented. We met all other requirement. We hope that once the issue is sorted, we will be good to go,” said Juma. He and his team have been asked to appear again on Thursday morning to get cleared.
King’ori is among the 18 presidential aspirants listed by the electoral body to be cleared for the ballot on the August 9 polls. The commission released the list of the 18 aspirants who are awaiting vetting.
Of those shortlisted, 10 are vying on political parties’ tickets while the other eight are seeking the top seat as independents.
Those vying on political parties’ tickets include William Ruto (UDA), Raila Odinga (Azimio), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Ekuru Aukot (Thirdway Alliance), Jimi Wanjigi (Safina Party), Njeru Kathangu (Ford Asili), Walter Mong’are (Umoja Summit Party), Justus Juma (Justice and Freedom Party), George Wajackoya (Roots Party) and David Mwaura Wahiga (Agano Party).
Those shortlisted as independents are Dorothy Kemunto, Peter Mubiko King’ori, Jeremiah Nyaga, Jane Juliet Munyeki, Eliud Muthiora Kariara, George Munyotta Kamau, James Kamau and Gibson Ng’ang’a.
In a schedule released by the commission, Juma and King’ori faced Chebukati, who is also the presidential vote and National Returning Officer, yesterday.
Today, Roots Party leader George Wajackoya and his Umoja Summit counterpart Mong’are will present their papers to the commission. Tomorrow, independent female candidate Dorothy Kemunto will present her papers while on Wednesday Gibson Ngaruiya will do the same on an independent ticket.
On Thursday, independent aspirant James Kamau has a date with the commission while on Friday, two more independent aspirants — Jeremiah Nyaga and Jane Juliet Munyeki — will seek IEBC clearance.
On Saturday, June 4, Ruto, Kalonzo and Agano party leader David Mwaure Waihiga will appear at Bomas of Kenya to get IEBC clearance to vie in the presidential race.
On Sunday, Raila alongside Dr Aukot and independent aspirant George Munyotta will have a date with the IEBC team.
On June 6, Wanjigi, Kathangu and independent aspirant Muthiora Kariara will conclude the exercise. Release of the schedule for clearance of presidential aspirants came even as Kenya’s official campaign period begun yesterday.
