There will be no elections if my name is not on the ballot – Mwangi wa Iria vows
There was drama at Bomas of Kenya on Sunday evening as Usawa Kwa Wote presidential aspirant Mwangi wa Iria accused the electoral body of omitting his name from the nomination register.
In a video seen by People Daily, the Murang’a Governor alleged a deliberate attempt by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to bar him from the presidential contest.
Who is rigging out Gov of Muranga? Si u just let him contest? pic.twitter.com/EcAtKFaOdj— Ahmednasir Abdullahi SC (@ahmednasirlaw) May 29, 2022
Mwangi was Iria submits requirements
The aspirant claimed that he had submitted all the requisite documents to the commission and couldn't understand why his name is missing on the nomination schedule released by the Commission.
He threatened to stop the presidential poll slated for August 9 if his name is not added to the register.
“Even people who failed to meet requirements are in the schedule but my name has been removed… no election will be conducted if I will not contest,” he charged adding that there is a plot to rig the election.
The presidential hopeful stated that his candidature had been endorsed by 48,000 voters from 24 counties in line with the IEBC guidelines.
Yesterday, IEBC 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) at 5 pm to be cleared.
King’ori, however, said 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.
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.
