Renowned footballer McDonald Mariga could be blocked from participating in the Kibra mini-poll if an appeal by a Jubilee Party aspirant is successful.
Mariga's emerged victorious after beating 16 other aspirants in an interview held by Jubilee Party's National Elections Board (NEB) on Monday, September 2.
The following day, one of the aspirants Morris Peter Kinyajui, presented an appeal to the party's appeals board claiming the elections board was in violation of the electoral law in awarding Mariga the ticket.
Kinyanjui, rejected the party's decision terming it “unfair, deceptive and shrouded in secrecy, in addition to being in contravention of the Party constitution".
He went ahead to claim that Mariga is not a registered voter and that he is neither a resident nor a voter in the constituency.
This is contrary to the Constitution's chapter eight, part two of the legislature that speaks on the composition and membership of Parliament.
"(1) Unless disqualified under clause (2), a person is eligible for election as a member of Parliament if the person (a) is registered as a voter,"
“To make matters worse, the said selected person is not a resident or a voter of Kibra constituency and there are serious doubts whether or not he has ever voted," the jubilee aspirant protested.
Kinyanjui also threw shade at Mariga by comparing him to the deceased Kibra MP Ken Okoth who was learned, suggesting that the footballer did not merit the responsibility.
"His candidature will be an impossible sell to the people of Kibra given the calibre of MP we had in the immediate past.”
Reports by The star disclosed that their sources said Mariga was listed as a voter in Kariakor only two weeks ago and may not be considered as a registered voter in Kenya just yet and that the updated register has not been gazetted as required by law.
However, Jubilee party NEB chairman Andrew Musangi came to Mariga's defense dismissing the claims as rumours, insisting one only needed to register to be a voter.
“The law only says that one should be registered as a voter not gazetted to participate in an election, either as a voter or as a candidate."
The gazettement does not make you a voter. It is the act of registration that makes you a voter,” emphasised Musangi.
