Win for Sonko as court clear him to vie for Mombasa gubernatorial seat
A Mombasa High Court has directed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to clear former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko to vie for Mombasa gubernatorial seat in the August General Elections.
The court concluded that the IEBC acted arbitrarily in disqualifying Sonko from the race.
Sonko had been denied approval to run for the Mombasa governorship after the electoral commission cited his impeachment while serving as Nairobi governor as the cause.
The IEBC contended that the High Court judgement that overturned the order blocking the IEBC from clearing the Governor did not direct them to clear Sonko.
The order said that Sonko’s clearance was up to the electoral body’s judgment.
The governor attempted to bargain his way out of the denial, resulting in a confrontation at the IEBC offices.
Sonko is running for governor of Mombasa on the Wiper Party platform.
He was accompanied by his running mate Kisauni MP Ali Mbogo, former Matuga MP Chirau Mwakwere.
The impeached Nairobi governor, according to IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati, is unfit to contest for the seat in the August elections.
He stated that the Commission received a report from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) that declared one governor aspirant, one senatorial aspirant, and one Member of the County Assembly aspirant ineligible to hold public office as a result of their impeachment.
Sonko, on the other hand, stated that the Kenyan Constitution does not expressly indicate that aspirants with pending court issues are disqualified from running for elective office.
