Candidates who face criminal charges to run
Scores of politicians facing charges in court or underactive investigations for various offences have been cleared to run for elective seats.
From governors, senators, Members of the National Assembly and Ward Reps races, nearly all parties -- United Democratic Alliance, Orange Democratic Movement, Jubilee, Wiper and Kanu – are sponsoring candidates who are either battling court cases or are being investigated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
More than seven sitting and former governors and at least 25 MPs are facing charges of stealing county resources and Constituency Development Fund (CDF), fraud, forgery of academic documents and incitement. Many of them are seeking reelection or running for other positions.
Several former top State officials who were kicked out of office after being charged with theft, are also running for elective positions. Experts have blamed the situation on the mutilation of Chapter Six of the Constitution in 2012 when a five-judge bench of the High Court ruled that all appeal opportunities had to be exploited before one is barred from running.
Currently, a case by activist Okiya Omtata seeking to have people with criminal charges or adversely mentioned in various matters barred from contesting elections is pending in court.
“To normalise the participation of people without integrity in the political life of the republic is to clearly demonstrate a lack of understanding of the obligations placed on elected leaders and representatives of the people by the Constitution and the law,” Omtata says in his suit documents.
Among candidates facing charges is former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, who is facing Sh327 million theft charges. Sonko has shifted base to Mombasa County where is set to run for governor on a Wiper Party ticket.
Former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu, who like Sonko was impeached, unsuccessful contested for he UDA governorship ticket but lost to Senator Kimani Wamatangi. Sources say he is considering running in the August 9 election as an independent candidate. Waititu has a Sh588 million corruption case pending in court.
Lillian Omollo, a former Principal Secretary in Devolution ministry who has been charged over the loss millions of shillings at the National Youth Services has been handed the ticket by the ruling Jubilee to contest for the Embu Senate seat.
Lugari MP Ayub Savula and his two wives, Gatwiri Ringera and Hellen Kemboi, have been charged for allegedly stealing Sh122,335,500 from the Government Advertising Agency in fraud reported to have been executed through his Sunday Publishers Limited.
Savula is running for the Kakamega governor seat. Despite having been slapped with a 67- year jail term over theft of Sh297 million through dubious government tenders, Sirisia MP John Waluke, whose freedom hangs on a pending appeal, is seeking re-election on the Jubilee ticket.
UDA’s Senate candidate in Nakuru Tabitha Karanja, who owns Keroche Breweries, is facing up to 10 charges related to tax evasion. Controversial televangelist David Ngare, alias Gakuyo, is seeking Thika MP position on Jubilee ticket. He was indicted by the Commissioner of Cooperatives for defrauding unsuspecting Kenyans of Sh1.5 billion using his Gakuyo real estate firm and Ekeza Sacco.
Meru Senator Mithika Linturi, who is eying the Meru governor seat on UDA ticket, has been accused of forging signatures to secure a Sh530 million bank loan using properties belonging to his estranged wife Marianne Kitanny. He is also facing attempted rape charges.
Governors Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka Nithi) and Ali Korane (Garissa) have active graft cases but they are on campaign trail for re-election.
Kickbacks
Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, who is facing a litany of theft charges has shifted base to Homa Bay where he is eying the governorship seat while his co-accused, Aduma Owuor, who is the MP Nyakach, is seeking re-election on ODM ticket.
Owuor has been charged over Sh10 million for alleged illegal payments at City Hall. Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), who has been charged with fraudulent acquisition Sh7.3 billion through questionable tenders, is among those DP Ruto is reportedly considering picking as his running mate.
Aisha Jumwa (Malindi) has been charged with stealing Sh19 million from CDF. Jumwa, who is also battling murder charges, is eying Kilifi governor seat. Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, who is eying the Kiambu Governor seat, has three files where EACC has recommended that he, his siblings and former CDF committee officials be charged with receiving kickbacks from constituency tenders.
Bobasi lawmaker Innocent Momanyi, together with Kisumu Assembly Speaker Onyango Oloo, are facing corruption charges related to the Sh4 billion Lake Basin mall in Kisumu. Babu Owino of Embakasi East is facing charges relating to the shooting Felix Orinda, a deejay popularly known as DJ Evolve in a bar.
He is running for re-election. David Gikaria (Nakuru Town East) has been charged with land fraud. Lamu West MP Stanley Muthama was charged in an Eldoret court with failing to remit Sh487 million in taxes between 2013 and 2017 from businesses operated under Stansha Limited.
Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter has been charged with 11 counts related to conspiracy to defraud the Central Bank of Kenya of Sh600 million. Patrick Musimba of Kibwezi West and his
