The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Disputes Tribunal has disqualified Kiambu Senatorial candidate Karungo Wa Thang'wa from running in the August 9 poll.
On Sunday, June 19, the IEBC ruled that Karungo had been removed from office through impeachment and would therefore be disqualified from ever holding public office.
The tribunal dismissed the Senate aspirant's claim that he had resigned before his impeachment and upheld the decision by the Kiambu Returning Officer not to clear the politician.
"Our analysis of the fact and law as presented leads us to the conclusion that the respondent (IEBC) acted within the law to decline the complainant (Karungo) on the account of him having been removed from public office and presenting himself for nomination outside the gazetted terms,"
"In light of the foregoing, the committee upholds the decision of the returning officer in declining to nominate the complainant and the complaint is hereby dismissed with no order to cost," the tribunal noted.
In response, Thang'wa accused the tribunal of making an unfair ruling, noting that he would not give up on his fight, promising to escalate the matter in Court.
"The IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee has given a very dishonest ruling. Let us meet at the High Court. We are not letting go. We are here to stay!" He declared.
On May 26, High Court judge Justice Anthony Mrima issued a temporary order barring IEBC from clearing Thangwa, pending the determination of an appeal filed by Kelvin Njui Wangari.
Wangari had moved to court to challenge the UDA aspirant's eligibility to contest in the election, citing his removal from office during the reign of former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu.
"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," the court order read in part.
Notably Thang'wa is not the only UDA politician pushing hard to save their candidature. Nairobi gubernatorial candidate Johnson Sakaja's eligibility to contest hangs in the balance, following questions raised on his degree certificate.
The Nairobi Senator had presented a certificate from Teams University in Uganda to the electoral body, before petitioners challenged his clearance. The IEBC Commission Disputes Tribunal is set to issue its verdict on the matter on Sunday, June 19.
Already, Sakaja's legal team has moved to the High Court challenging the Commission for University Education's decision to denounce his degree.
