The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has disqualified the impeached Nairobi governor Mike Sonko from contesting for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat in the August polls.
IEBC disqualified those impeached from office from contesting for political seats after the electoral agency received a report from EACC that listed one governor aspirant, one senatorial aspirant, and one Member of the County Assembly aspirant as unfit to hold public office following their impeachment or removal from office for abuse of office.
Sonko was disqualified along with former Kiambu Youth Executive Karungo Thang’wa who was set to vie for the Kiambu Senate seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, and Karen MCA David Mberia who was convicted of economic crimes but never appealed.
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati said aspirants who have been previously impeached from public office stand disqualified from contesting in an election.
In disqualifying Sonko and Thang’wa, Chebukati cited Article 75(3) which states: “A person who is removed from office on contravention of Chapter 6 of the Constitution is disqualified from holding any other State or public office whether elective or appointive.”
“The Commission’s position is that Article 75 of the Constitution is self-speaking and self-executing…. Therefore, the three aspirants who have been removed from public office through impeachment are disqualified from contesting in the elections,” said Chebukati.
Former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu has also been disqualified.
Chebukati further revealed that 11 other aspirants are under investigation by the EACC.