The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has finalized the registration of presidential candidates with only four making it to the ballot paper for the August 9th 2022 general elections.
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati who presided over this exercise as the returning officer of the presidential elections said that the four candidates met the requisite constitutional and statutory requirements, and were therefore successful in their bid to contest as candidates for president.
Chebukati said that the successful candidates are David Mwaure Waihiga (Agano Party), Prof. George Wajackoyah (Roots Party), Raila Odinga (Azimio Coalition Political Party) and William Ruto (United Democratic Alliance-UDA).
“However, the following candidates did not meet the requisite constitutional and statutory requirements, and were therefore unsuccessful: 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 and Freedom), Peter Mumbiko King’ori (Independent), Walter Onchong’a Mong’are (Umoja Summit Party) and Njeru Kathangu (Ford Asili),” said Chebukati.
He explained that regulation 43 (2) (c) of the Elections (General) Regulations, 2012 provides that a returning officer shall hold a nomination paper invalid on grounds that the candidate is not qualified to be, or is disqualified by law to have been nominated or elected to the elective post for which nomination is sought.
“As the returning officer for the presidential election, upon discovery of new information on Walter Onchong’a Mong’are’s lack of academic qualifications, I invited him to appear before me today at 2.00pm to clarify the issue. He failed to honour my invitation and pursuant to Regulation 43 (2) (c) of the Elections (General) Regulations, 2012, I hereby revoke the nomination certificate of Walter Onchong’a Mong’are of Umoja Summit Party dated 2nd June 2022,” said Chebukati.
He said that as a commission, they wished to remind all candidates to abide by the Electoral Code of Conduct during the campaign period.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
