IEBC nullifies Mariga’s Kibra Candidature

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has nullified the candidature of Jubilee’s Kibra candidate MacDonald Mariga over missing details from the voters register.

According to IEBC, Mariga is not a registered Voter as required by the Law.

Section 24(1)(a) of the Elections Act (Chapter 24 of the Laws of Kenya ) prescribes that one of the qualifications necessary for a person to be nominated by a political party to contest for a parliamentary seat (whether National Assembly or Senatorial) is that one must be a registered voter.

Efforts by former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and MP Nixon Korir to find a way forward with IEBC on the matter did not bear any fruits as IEBC returning officer Beatrice said she could not arbitrate on the matter.

Mariga was earlier in the day issued with a Jubilee Nomination Certificate before proceeding to the IEBC for clearance. He had even kick started his campaigns in Kibra.

Imran Okoth
ODM Leader Raila Odinga with Kibra Aspirant Imran Okoth at the party’s headquarters on Tuesday

The latest development will come as a huge blow for Jubilee who were banking on the former Football Star.

Its not the first time Mariga’s candidature is facing a hurdle.

In an appeal that has since been withdrawn, one of the Jubilee’s aspirant for the seat, Moses Peter Kinyajui, claimed that Mariga is not a registered voter.

“To make matters worse, the said selected person is not a resident or a voter of Kibra constituency and there are serious doubts whether or not he has ever voted,” he protested.

“His candidature will be an impossible sell to the people of Kibra given the calibre of MP we had in the immediate past.”

Meanwhile, IEBC has cleared more than 10 candidates from different political parties to view in the byelections slated for Nov 7.

Among those cleared include ODM’s Bernard Okoth, ANC’s Eliud Owalo and FORD Kenya candidate Khamisi Butich.

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