Update: Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata was on Tuesday, June 7, cleared to vie for the county's gubernatorial seat by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
In a video seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the Senator hoisted the clearance paper in front of his supporters who cheered him on.
This comes a day after the commission denied him clearance claiming that his running mate, Winnie Mwangi, had not resigned as a public officer by the lapse of February 9 deadline.
IEBC had given the Senator a Tuesday, June 7 deadline to seek clearance.
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Murang'a Senator Irungu Kang'ata was on Monday, June 6, denied clearance by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to vie for the county's Gubernatorial seat.
This is after the electoral body established that his running mate, Winnie Mwangi, failed to resign within the legal timelines.
According to the IEBC, all state officers seeking elective seats at the August 9 poll had to resign by February 9, 2022.
The Senator will be heading to court in a bid to protest the move by the commission. Kang'ata had selected Mwangi due to her vast experience in matters land.
As part of his manifesto, Kang'ata noted that the county had experienced numerous land issues that led to criminal cases with family wrangles increasing over the same issue.
He noted that his running mate would be the ultimate solution to the dire issue.
"Murang'a has land and education problems. Winnie Mwangi who has a Ph.D. in land economics will help," reads part of Kang'ata's campaign posters.
The Senator joins the list of members of the Kenya Kwanza coalition who were not cleared by the commission.
On Wednesday, May 25, the High Court barred IEBC from clearing Karungo wa Thang'wa for vying for the Kiambu Senate seat pending the determination of a suit that challenges his eligibility.
High Court judge Anthony Mrima noted that Thang'wa's impeachment as County Executive Committee Member of Youth and Sports in 2019 raised concerns about integrity. The judge referred to Chapter Six of the Constitution which touches on integrity.
"Pending further orders of the expanded bench, the IEBC is hereby prohibited from clearing Paul Karungo Thang'wa to vie as a candidate for any elective office at the August 9 Gen Election and or printing ballot papers bearing his name or symbol," read part of the court orders.
Further, ANC's Alfred Agoi also failed to get IEBC clearance to vie for Vihiga's Gubernatorial seat after his running mate, Vincent Mmaitsi, had failed to resign from state office by the stipulated deadline.
Agoi was given until June 7, 2022, to find a different running mate and return to IEBC for clearance.
Bomas of Kenya on Monday, May 23, 2022
