In Summary
- The Independent Boundaries and Electoral Commission (IEBC) dispute resolution committee said it has seven days to deal with complaints against parties.
The electoral body has said it will disqualify candidates who acquired nominations unprocedurally.
The Independent Boundaries and Electoral Commission (IEBC) dispute resolution committee said it has seven days to deal with complaints against parties.
“We have powers to replace names of candidates. We also have powers to revoke nominations which were not done properly even if a party remains without a candidate,” committee chairman Thomas Letangule said.
This could throw a lifeline to aggrieved aspirants after some parties issued certificates to losers.
Mr Letangule said the IEBC had complaints of double allocation of certificates, issuance of documents to wrong candidates and non-members.
“We will be transparent and guided by the law. The nominations are not over until we resolve the cases,” he said.
Money changed hands
On Wednesday the committee had received 110 complaints which it will try to resolve in six days.
Hearing of complaints was, however, adjourned to Thursday as complainants had not properly served the parties.
Mr Letangule said those who were dissatisfied with the committee’s decision could lodge their cases with the High Court.
Among those who sought to file cases yesterday was former Maragua MP Elias Mbau who asked the IEBC not to publish TNA’s list of candidates.
He was told to return today for a hearing.
Others who sought intervention are Mr Kisia Ojow of PICK who wants ODM candidates in areas where nominations were held past the deadline disqualified.
Mr Mohammed Isaack Ali of UDF said he was elected unopposed to vie for the Kamukunji parliamentary seat but was denied the ticket after money changed hands.
On Wednesday, a UDF lawyer told the committee the party was looking at the issue even as the case was listed for hearing on Thursday.
An ODM Makongeni ward aspirant Mr Peter Imwatok accused the party of denying him nomination after winning. Mr Imwatok was stabbed at Buruburu in Nairobi on Sunday following the dispute.
An aspirant for Othaya parliamentary seat, Ms Mary Wambui of TNA is among those who have raised issues with the nominations after her opponent was given the party’s ticket despite losing.
Former Githunguri MP Njoroge Baiya and Ms Wambui, an aspirant for Othaya parliamentary seat and a ward representative aspirant in Kiambu County James Mbaruti who claim to have won the primaries, held a sit-in for over three hours at the IEBC’s offices in Nairobi on Tuesday night, as they sought audience with senior officials over the status of their tickets.
Surprisingly, the candidates had been handed interim certificates by the TNA and told to wait for the original certificate.
Among the parties line-up to appear before Mr Letangule’s tribunal are ODM, TNA, Kenya National Congress (KNC), Federal Party of Kenya (FPK), Kanu, Narc, PICK, United Democratic Forum (UDF), Ford Kenya, New Ford Kenya, Wiper and United Republican Party (URP).
A real estate dealer, Mr Naftaly Chokera was yesterday given a nomination certificate to vie for Tigania East parliamentary seat on Kanu ticket.
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