Unsuccessful aspirants whose applications to contest the August 9th presidential elections have cried foul and accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of bias. The aspirants who addressed the media at the Safina Party headquarters in Nairobi on Tuesday, have threatened to go to court to seek justice.
Led by Safina Party’s Jimi Wanjigi whose application was rejected on Monday for lack of a university degree, the aspirants allege that the commission wants to “silence” them and promised that they wont accept to be silenced. “We’ve seen this template before and it is the template of dictatorship. I want to assure Kenyans that it was defeated before and we shall defeat it again now,” said Wanjigi on Tuesday.
Thirdway Alliance aspirant Ekuru Aukot, seeking the presidency for the third time in a row wondered why the IEBC denied him clearance on account of his degree certificate yet he had been cleared twice before. “In 2017 IEBC issued me with a certificate to run for president. Last Sunday, IEBC denied me that certificate on the excuse that my degree certificate is not certified, isn’t that laughable?” Said Aukot.
The polls body cleared only David Mwaure Waihiga (Agano Party), Prof. George Wajackoyah (Roots Party), Raila Odinga (Azimio Coalition Political Party) and William Ruto (United Democratic Alliance) and left out the individuals below who did not meet the requisite constitutional and statutory requirements:
- Eliud Muthiora Kariara (Independent)
- Dorothy Kemunto Nyangori (Independent)
- Dr. Ekuru Aukot (Thirdway Alliance Party)
- Gibson Ngaruiya Nganga (Independent)
- George Munyottah (Independent)
- Jeremiah Nyagah (Independent)
- James Kamau (Independent)
- Jimi Wanjigi (Safina Party)
- June Juliet Munyeki (Independent)
- Justus Juma (Justice & Freedom)
- Peter Mumbiko King’ori (Independent)
- Walter Onchong’a Mong’are (Umoja Summit Party)
- Njeru Kathangu (Ford Asili)
Speaking at the press briefing, Mr. Reuben Kigame who is blind moved to court seeking orders to have the IEBC compelled to accept his nomination papers. He argues that the process was massive and that he had to travel in very many counties to collect signatures and ID copies in the period provided, despite his disability. He further noted that he did not even make the list of those disqualified from the race to State House.
