WAITITU SUES IEBC

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has sued Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for blocking him from running for the Nairobi gubernatorial by-election.

In his petition, the former Kiambu governor the decision by the electoral body arguing that has not been convicted of any offence and as such he has the right to vie for any public office.

The former Kiambu governor wants the court to compel IEBC to accept his candidature.

Waititu argues that there are no legal provisions barring him from vying for an electoral position hence the decision by IEBC is illegal.

“As it stands, the applicant in this matter has not been convicted of any crime and has fully complied with all electoral guidelines provided when running for the aforementioned electoral position,” reads the court.

He stated that the office of the Attorney-General gave him an indication that the reason for his barring is the impeachment.

The former governor has also accused the IEBC together with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission of engaging in a smear campaign against him.

He told the two bodies to stop acting as judge, jury and executioner as the criminal case against him is still pending in court.

Waititu was however cleared by the registrar of political parties to vie for an elective post.

“From the foregoing, the 1st respondent (IEBC) cannot then bar applicant (Waititu) from seeking an elective position.”

Waititu also informed the court that he has already lodged a case challenging his impeachment which is now set to be heard by a three-judge bench.

He argued that IEBC had denied him of his political rights and right to fair trial which is guaranteed under the constitution.

“Applicant will continue to suffer without the intervention of this honorable court which ought to look at the process that was both illegal and procedural leading to the decision that has been stated by the 1st respondent (IEBC),” he said.

Judge Anthony Mrima after hearing Waititu’s on Monday, January 5 directed that the papers be served on all parties and they come back for hearing on January 7.

Waititu, who has been on the political cold since he was impeached as Kiambu governor in early 2020, expressed interest in contesting for the Nairobi county seat in the forthcoming elections in February.

He was looking to make a comeback after spending over ten months out of the political arena. However, the electoral body denied him a chance stating that he’s not fit to run for the office.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission also echoed IEBC’s decision stating that those who have been impeached fail the integrity test to run for public office.

Source: The Kenyan Herald.