Court bars IEBC from processing Sonko’s papers for Mombasa race
Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko’s bid to succeed Hassan Joho as the next Mombasa governor has suffered a blow after the High Court ordered the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to temporarily restrain him from contesting in the August polls.
The setback follows a petition by three civil society organisations seeking to have the former Nairobi County chief barred from contesting the Mombasa gubernatorial race.
In the matter, the three organisations among them Haki Yetu, Kituo Cha Sheria and Transparency International, argue that Sonko was removed from office for violating the Constitution, lacking integrity during his term as Nairobi Governor and failing to promote public confidence as a governor.
In a matter certified as urgent, Mombasa Resident Judge John Mativo issued orders seeking to stop IEBC from processing and clearing Sonko’s nomination papers to contest in the August polls, pending the hearing and determination of the application before his court.
Sonko, the Wiper party and the IEBC are listed as respondents in the matter.
“l hereby order the third respondent not to clear the first respondent’s name to vie for the elective post pending the hearing and determination of the application,” ruled justice Mativo.
The orders were issued ex-parte following the sworn affidavit of Munira Ali Omar, the Programmes Officer at Haki Yetu who told the court that Sonko’s nomination by the Wiper party violated the constitution since he had been found unsuitable to hold a public office.
