Sonko Out as IEBC Gives Wiper 72 Hours to Find Replacement

By Kevin Koech

Posted on 21 June 2022

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has been disqualified from the Mombasa County gubernatorial seat race.

IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee upheld the decision of the Mombasa returning officer Sala Yusuf to drop Sonko from the race since he was impeached as Nairobi Governor.

“The committee notes that he was impeached by the Senate of the Republic of Kenya. The letter by Supreme Court was not produced to the commission during the time of clearance. Disqualification is premised on solid grounds,” the Committee ruled.

As such, IEBC has given Wiper Party 72 hours to nominate another candidate in place of Sonko in the race.

IEBC commissioner Justus Nyang’aya who read the panel’s judgement noted that Sonko did not produce his original degree from Kenya Methodist University during clearance.

“The certification that is being accepted by IEBC for the purpose of 2022 general election is the certification by the institution issuing the document

“Nothing has been placed before this commission to prove that the complainant possesses a degree certificate,” Nyang’aya said.

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko PHOTO/COURTESY

Nyang’aya added that Sonko presented his degree past the set down deadline.

“He produced his documents on the last day giving him a disadvantage on rectifications. He could have produced his documents before the deadline to have to have time for any corrections

“The complainant availed the degree certificate but he failed to present it at 4 pm for consideration,” he stated.

Sonko said he will appeal the matter in the High Court.

The former county boss had argued that the returning officer to disqualified him despite a pending appeal before the Supreme Court on his impeachment

Lawyers who represented Sonko said there was no requirement in law that a certified copy of the certificate must be presented.

“The candidate has not been given an opportunity to defend himself

“IEBC chair has overlooked all the fundamental rights of a citizen, he made arbitrary rules to the detriment of the Wiper party,” Kevin Katisya told the committee during the hearing.

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