Jubilee candidate for the Kibra by-election, McDonald Mariga, faces a new hurdle in his bid to replace the Late Ken Okoth in the Nairobi constituency.
Leina Konchella, a voter in Kibra and a member of the Jubilee Party moved to the high court on Friday, September 21, to block the ex-footballer from vying.
Konchella claimed that the IEBC bosses irregularly cleared Mariga and deliberately overlooked the inconsistencies in his papers.
The Star reported that in the suit the voter asked the high court to order the IEBC to stop the printing of ballot papers for the November 7 by-election until her petition is heard and determined.
“This honourable court be pleased to issue a conservatory order restraining the 1st respondent [IEBC] whether by itself, its agents, its servants or otherwise howsoever from printing ballot papers,” read part of the suit.
The suit is based on two main issues, first the allegation that Mariga was not a duly registered voter and second, the assertion that he has questionable integrity that effectively bars him from the electoral contest.
“The integrity, transparency and accountability of the electoral process was in doubt and it’s only fair and just that such issues raised ought to be canvassed as a matter of urgency to protect the sanctity of the electoral process in Kenya,” Konchella argued.
In her petition, Konchella claimed Mariga registered as a voter long after the IEBC had suspended voter registration in Kibra.
She also argued that according to the law, a voter register considered legitimate for purposes of nomination and election must be certified and gazetted.
This suit comes barely three days after President Uhuru Kenyatta endorsed Mariga for the Kibra seat.
