BREAKING: High Court Clears Mike Sonko to vie for Mombasa Governor's Seat

The former Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko can now breathe after Kenya`s Highcourt on Thursday 13th July cleared his name to go ahead and vie for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat on the wiper party ticket.

Christine Juma Christine Juma
Jul 13, 2022 - 11:57 Updated: Jul 13, 2022 - 12:20
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BREAKING: High Court Clears Mike Sonko to vie for Mombasa Governor's Seat

This comes after the three-Judge bench of justices O.A. Sewe, S. Githinji, and Lady Justice Ong'injo ruled that Ex Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko had met all the requirements set by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries commission {IEBC} to contest for the Mombasa top seat.

Justice Githinji directed the IEBC to list Mike Sonko as the Wiper candidate for governor of Mombasa.

Earlier the IEBC had rejected Sonko`s Papers that he had submitted with claims that he had been impeached and thus this was making him impossible to vie for the position.

The court, however, ruled that the election commission's decision to reject Sonko's papers violated the constitution because an appeal against his impeachment was ongoing before the Supreme Court.

Sonko's name was not on the list of gazetted candidates cleared to run for various elective seats in the 2022 General Election.

This raised suspicions because some of the candidates whose ability to run in the August elections had been challenged had been cleared.

IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati stated on June 3rd that Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission {EACC} wanted 241 aspirants barred over integrity issues, including two running for President, one who was seeking clearance as a running mate, 61 for governor, six for Senate, 19 for Woman Rep, 58 for MP, and 94 for MCA.

“For those who have been convicted but have an appeal, the commission follows the direction of Article 99 (3) which says that, as long as you have an appeal, we cannot stop you from running and I think that’s why the returning officer in Sirisia cleared Sirisia MP John Waluke,” said Mr. Chebukati.

“But, based on Article 75 of the constitution, individuals who have been impeached will stay impeached and we shall treat them as such,” he added.

Mr. Waluke and his business partner Grace Wakhungu were found guilty of fraud and illegal acquisition of Sh297 million through shady deals by the anti-corruption court. Upon conviction, the court imposed a combined fine of a billion. In default, Ms. Wakhungu was to serve 39 years in prison while the MP was handed a 34-year sentence.

However, Sonko (Wiper Party), Bollo Hezron Awiti (Vibrant Democratic Party), Hassan Omar (UDA), Jama Amin Ali (PAA), Mwaruwa Abdalla Hemed (Independent), Nzaro Salim Omar (UPIA), Nassir Abdullswamad Sheriff (ODM), and Omari Said Abdalla (Usawa Kwa Wote Party) will compete for the Mombasa Governorship.

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