The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has barred two candidates from running in Meru’s Kiagu ward by-election on October 14.
The IEBC’s vetting committee barred Milton Mwenda of Chama Cha Kazi (CCK) and Nathan Gitonga of the National Ordinary People Empowerment Union (NOPEU) from running after discovering that they had failed to resign as public officers within the legally mandated seven-day period following the declaration of the vacancy.
The Commission gave the CKK party, led by Gatundu South lawmaker Moses Kuria, 72 hours to nominate another candidate to run in the by-election.
“The Committee found the 2 to have failed to resign as public officers within the legally provided timeline of 7 days after the declaration of the vacancy. Chama Cha Kazi party has been given the option of nominating another Candidate within 72 hours to contest in the by election,” a statement issued by the electoral commission on Thursday read.
Eunice Karegi, who was elected on a Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC) ticket, died, leaving the seat vacant.
The decision by the IEBC to bar the CCK candidate enraged Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, who was preparing for a supremacy battle with Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA). Kuria has vowed to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
“Today the IEBC has disqualified the Chama Cha Kazi candidate for Kiagu By-Election Milton Mwenda Kabobo following a petition by the South Imenti UDA Coordinator Salesio Mutuma Thuranira. The party has been asked to submit a replacement candidate. We are dissatisfied with this decision and we will move to the High Court first thing tomorrow morning to challenge this decision,” he said is a brief statement published on social media.
