The Kenya Kwanza fraternity is mourning Tujibebe Party candidate Stanley Muthengi who passed away in a road accident along Thika Road just hours after he had received clearance from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The politician was cleared to vie for the Member of County Assembly Kyome-Thaana ward, Kitui County, on Sunday, June 5. The accident happened on the same night he was cleared by the IEBC.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, a source from Tujibebe Party intimated that Muthengi had informed them of his clearance via text on their WhatsApp group before his demise.
The source also revealed that the candidate was set to begin his campaign trail in a bid to champion his party and the Kenya Kwanza coalition in general.
Close friends and colleagues remembered Muthengi for his bold stance on issues affecting the youth.
In a statement, Tujibebe leader William Kabogo eulogised Muthengi as a visionary, noting that the party had lost a promising candidate who had a bright future.
"My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the late Stano Muthengi. As a party, we have not only lost a candidate but a friend too. Muthengi was a youth leader who had a promising future," he stated.
The fallen politician had been advocating for the youth to take up more positions in government. In a past interview at Nation FM, he advised the youth to be wary and take caution not to be used by seasoned politicians as ploys for their narratives.
He urged the youth to take up positions in government in order to steer the country forward.
"You find that most candidates vying for various elective seats are seasoned politicians leaving out the youth to settle for scraps. It's time for the youth in this country to take up these positions," he stated during the interview.
The tragedy comes as the country has lost various political aspirants in the past two weeks. Rabai MP William Kamoti and Stella Memusi, the wife of Kajiado Central Member of Parliament, Elijah Memusi, have lost their lives in road accidents.
Muthengi's demise also raises questions as to what happens when a cleared candidate passes away days before the August 9 poll.
Constitutional lawyer Bobby Mkangi had intimated to Kenyans.co.ke that the IEBC would give the constituent party a new timeline to submit the name of another candidate. This would either be through competitive primaries or direct nomination.
"The logical thing would be to give the party an opportunity to replace his candidature," he stated during a recent interview on the demise of Kamoti - who had also been cleared by the IEBC on the same day he passed on.
