Safina presidential aspirant Jimi Richard Wanjigi has failed the clearance threshold by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of 48,000 and has not provided any eligible degree.
Wanjingi, however, claims he has provided some transcripts and he is set to graduate in December.
According to IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati, lacked the required signatures and failed to present copies of supporters’ IDs who sponsored his presidential campaign.
“We have allowed others who have problems with signatures to harmonise, and we can also allow you in the remaining hours to do so, but you must bring a physical copy of your degree certificate before I clear you,” Chebukati said.
As per Chebukati, Wanjigi attached transcripts of his education, despite the fact that the requirements require each candidate to provide a certificate from a recognized institution in the country.
He also claimed that the ID cards he supplied had irregularities.
Wanjigi, on the other hand, saw malice in the decision, claiming that the commission was using double standards in approving candidates.
“It is very clear what is going on here. There is a very clear mchujo (sieving) that is being decided elsewhere not here,” Wanjigi said.
He stated that the commission cleared some presidential contenders without question after they presented documents in a format identical to his.
Wanjingi insisted that he had met all of the legal requirements and even had a pre-nomination meeting with the commission, when he was told that all of his paperwork was in order.
Chebukati, on the other hand, informed Wanjigi that if he felt wronged, he should use the dispute resolution process.
“This is my decision and if you have any issues we have dispute resolution committee,” Chebukati said.
Wanjigi had requested that the IEBC undertake a thorough audit of the 2017 presidential election in compliance with the elections technology regulations in a letter to the IEBC.
To improve residents’ confidence ahead of the August 9 General Election, he said the commission should involve all parties and stakeholders in the process.
He urged the IEBC to fully implement the judgement of the Court of Appeal in the Maina Kiai case on the announcement of presidential results at Constituency Tallying Centres.
Wanjigi stated that the media must be allowed to broadcast the announcements made by the respective Constituency Returning Officers.
Wanjigi suggested that the IEBC issue a circular to state agencies directing them to provide adequate security to voters attending presidential candidate campaign rallies around the country.
Wanjigi also requested that the IEBC stop displaying “statistics” at the National Tallying Centre without the necessary documents.
“At the Supreme Court, the Commission lawyers disowned the information displayed referring to the same as statistics and not results,” Wanjigi said.
The Safina presidential candidate also requested that the IEBC utilise the first names of presidential candidates while organizing vote sheets, citing the fact that there are approximately three candidates whose surnames begin with the letter “W” in this election.
“The commission should arrange names at the ballot as per the first name and not the surname,” Wanjigi said.