The Wiper Democratic Movement has revoked a direct nomination ticket it had issued to Ben Mulwa, the former spokesperson of the former Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko.
In the letter shared by Mulwa on Saturday, April 9, the party led by former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka explained that the Nairobi Gubernatorial hopeful, upon a second review, had not met all the requirements to contest for the seat.
"The NEB would like to inform you that upon further scrutiny of your application, we have ascertained that you did not meet all requirements as set out by our party election and nomination rules. Precisely, it does not satisfy Rule 18.1 (d)," read the statement in part.
"Your application for Nairobi County Governor aspirant has therefore been rejected. The earlier unopposed candidate notification issued to you on April 6 has therefore been revoked," Wiper's National Election Board Chair Agatha Solitei wrote.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Mulwa intimated that he received a letter from NEB through WhatsApp informing him that he had been disqualified from the race.
He revealed that the party cancelled his nomination based on its election and nomination rules, which he would seek clarification on Monday April 11.
"I received the letter at about 9 p.m stating that my nomination had been called off, citing section 18.1 of the party nomination rules. I hope to find out from the party on Monday," he stated.
Kenyans.co.ke has established that section 18.1 of the Wiper Party nomination rules provides for the disqualification of aspirants with subsection (d) being on the basis of party contributions.
"An aspirant shall be disqualified from seeking nomination for civic, parliamentary and presidential elections if that person has uncleared arrears with the party in terms of contribution," the section reads in part.
Sonko's former spokesperson admitted that indeed he had an outstanding balance revealing that he had not cleared the nomination fees.
The Kalonzo-led party required for gubernatorial aspirants to pay a non-refundable fee of Ksh500,000 or Ksh250,000 for special interest groups including women, youths and people with disabilities.
Should he be cleared, Mulwa will face it off with Westlands Member of Parliament (MP) Tim Wanyonyi, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) president Richard Ngatia, Governor Anne Kananu and Agnes Kagure for the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya ticket.
Azimio's candidate will square it out with Kenya Kwanza's flag-bearer and incumbent Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja.
Deputy President William Ruto brokered a deal that saw Bishop Margaret Wanjiru shelve her gubernatorial ambitions in favour of Sakaja. Wanjiru will now go for the Senate seat.
Should Maina Kamanda fly the Azimio flag, then the senatorial race would be a rematch of 2007 Starehe parliamentary race in which the televangelist was declared winner.
