Senior lawyer and Safina party running mate nominee Willis Otieno has revealed foul blunders by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati that risk plunging the country into post-election violence.
Speaking on Friday morning during an exclusive interview with freelancer journalist Gerald Bitok, Willis Otieno accused Chebukati of failing to abide by the constitution and clear Safina party candidate Jimi Wanjigi for the August presidential contest.
Willis noted that the constitution requires individuals eyeing the country’s top job to submit either degree certificates or transcripts of their degree (in case of delayed graduation)Â to the commission for clearance.
“The constitution requires that candidates ought to provide either degree certificate or transcript of the degree (in case they delayed to graduate) to the Commission for clearance to participate in the race. Chebukati on his part has stuck to physical degree certificate which violates the constitution” Willis Otieno said.
He added that Chebukati’s decision to lock Wanjigi out of the race risks calling for protests among Safina party supporters across the country.
Jimi Wanjigi and Willis Otieno
“And I want to tell Chebukati that the decision to lock us (Wanjigi and Willis Otieno) from the contest risks angering our supporters and they might protest across the country” he added.
Chebukati declined to clear Wanjigi for failing to present a degree certificate for clearance. Wanjigi presented a transcript indicating that he is set to graduate from Daystar University in November 2022.
Safina party candidate Jimi Wanjigi’s appeal to the high court compelling the court to direct Chebukati to clear him for the presidential race was dismissed two weeks ago.
He escalated the case to the supreme court seeking justice from the legal angle. Chebukati noted that Wanjigi will only be cleared if the commission will be authorized by the supreme court to clear him.
So far, only four candidates, Raila, Ruto, Wajackoyah, and David Waihiga Mwaure were cleared to contest for the seat.
