2022 polls: Sonko now takes on IEBC after being deni*d clearance

Former Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has lodged a complaint with Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Dispute Resolution Committee protesting the decision to block him from contesting in the August 9 general election.

Sonko said the decision by IEBC's Returning Officer (RO) Swalhah Ibrahim to disqualify him from the Mombasa governor race was erroneous.

In the documents filed with the committee at Milimani law court, Sonko, through his lawyer Martin Mbichire, scoffed at claims by the IEBC that he is ineligible because he was impeached as the governor of Nairobi City County in 2020 on alleged gross misconduct.

Mbichire stated that the decision to bar him on grounds of impeachment was unfair as Sonko has a pending appeal at the Supreme Court of Kenya over the same.

"The complainant was allegedly disqualified on the grounds of breach of Article 75 of the Constitution yet Article 99(3) and Article 193(3) of the same constitution specifically provides that a person is not disqualified unless all possibility of appeal or review of the relevant decision has been exhausted," the lawyer stated.

Sonko wants IEBC clearance

Sonko further wants the dispute committee to issue orders to have him cleared to contest for the seat, saying the RO rejected his nomination papers without granting him a hearing.

The former Nairobi governor also wants the RO cited for contempt of court after going against the orders of a 3-judge bench which quashed the IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati's decision to block him from being cleared.

While disqualifying him on June 7, 2022, RO said a decision by the judges “did not order IEBC to clear Sonko to vie for Mombasa governor seat."