Wiper Party has said that it will move to court to challenge the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) disputes tribunal’s judgment to exclude former Nairobi Mike Sonko from the Mombasa gubernatorial election.
The IEBC panel upheld a decision by the Mombasa County Returning Officer, who had rejected Sonko’s application for the position early this week.
The committee subsequently granted the Wiper Party 72 hours to find a suitable replacement for Sonko in the competition.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has now described the IEBC’s decision to exclude Sonko from the election as a political witch-hunt and a case of double standards.
Kalonzo further stated that a team of lawyers is working around the clock to prepare for a court hearing to salvage Sonko’s political bid.
According to the IEBC panel, Sonko failed to submit his original degree certificate as well as a certified copy of the same, in violation of Article 75 of the Kenyan constitution.
The tribunal also heard that, while Sonko had given copies certified by his counsel during the last election, the degree requirement in 2022 applied to all candidates.
