Murang’a senator and gubernatorial hopeful Irungu Kang’ata’s bid has been sandwiched between hard rock and rough surface for allegedly affronting the electoral laws.
A petitioner, Thomas Waithaka Mumu, has filed a petition at Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Disputes Resolutions Committee seeking to disqualify Dr. Kang’ata over the claims that he asked the returning officer to alter the date of presentation his credentials to the Commission for clearance to vie for gubernatorial seat.
Kangata’s first clearance was declined on the ground that his running mate, Dr Winnie Mwangi, had resigned after the IEBC deadline on the resignation of state officials from their various positions seeking elective seats.
According to IEBC, all state officials were supposed to quit their respective jobs by 9th February, 2022. In the letter lodged at the commission, Dr Winnie Mwangi resigned from being a lecturer at the University of Nairobi on 10th February 2022, infringing the commission’s law.
Lawyer Peter Wanyama for the Murang’a voter told the tribunal that section 18 of the Election Act requires the returning officer to receive nomination papers on the date set and can not change them at the whims of any candidate.
“Dr. Kang’ata violated the law when he asked the returning officer to alter the nomination date of presentation of his candidature from 6 to 7 June 2022” Lawyer Wanyama said.
Kang’ata, through his lawyer, argued that the case amounts to no serious offence and the petitioner seeking to block his bid is being pushed by the opponents.
The Electoral Commission’s Tribunal is set to hear and determine the case on Wednesday, 14th, June 2022.
This follows after Nairobi Gubernatorial hopeful Johnson Sakaja’s candidature also plunges in limbo after a voter lodged a petition at the IEBC Disputes Resolutions Committee, seeking to bar him from participating in the August contest.
Wahome alleged that Sakaja’s controversial academic credentials were falsely obtained from Team University in Uganda. He argued that Sakaja forged the institution’s university degree to seek clearance to contest for the Nairobi seat.
