Reprieve for Sonko as court suspend ballot paper printing for Mombasa gubernatorial race

Reprieve for Mike Sonko after High Court sitting in Mombasa has issued interim orders stopping the electoral agency from printing ballot papers for Mombasa gubernatorial candidates pending determination of a case filed.

The three-judge bench; Justices Olga Sewe, Ann Ong’injo’ and S. Githinji has also suspended the gazettement of the Mombasa gubernatorial candidates in the August elections.

The Wiper Party was also prevented from nominating another candidate to replace Sonko in the race.

The Mombasa High Court had last month declined to issue conservatory orders to stop the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) from proceeding with the gazettement and printing of ballot papers for the Mombasa governor race.

Sonko is seeking to overturn IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee’s decision to bar him from vying for the seat.

Through his lawyers, Sonko said the returning officer contravened and ignored the guiding and underlying principles in failing to clear him.

“Wiper party presented a list of candidates to commission where IEBC cleared Sonko and invited him to present the required documents,” lawyer Wilfred Nyamu said.