March 19, 2024

Several Aspirants Decry Tough IEBC Rules

Malindi Independent candidate Karisa Mulewa after receiving his IEBC certificate (Photo/ Courtesy)

By The COAST Reporter

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

A number of independent candidates in Mombasa and Kilifi are unhappy with the “very rigid” clearance procedures of the IEBC. 

The commission on Sunday began a countrywide clearance of aspirants vying in the August elections starting with those seeking the Member of Parliament positions.

Mp aspirants vying as independent candidates were supposed to present names and signatures together with copies of identity cards of 1,000 people in the constituency they are vying for.

Eric Gitonga, who is eying the Nyali parliamentary seat, said that the process of getting the documents was cumbersome.

In Malindi Karisa Mulewa whose vying on an independent ticket had to go back the following day while UDA candidate in Jomvu Mombasa Karisa Munyika Nzai spent a number of hours before being cleared by IEBC reason being poor network

Karisa claimed IEBC is not fully prepared to conduct this years general elections due to the way the clearance takes hours to go through.

Jomvu UDA candidate Karisa Nzai receiving his IEBC certificate from the returning officer Husna Hassan Salim where he later lashed on IEBC for claims of not being well prepared (Photo by Mwakwaya Raymond)

“It’s very tough for us, I had to come with a box of documents that I couldn’t even carry by myself. I had to carry about five files of documents, mostly ID photocopies of supporters,” said Gitonga.

He was addressing the media at the National Industrial Training Authority institute in Nyali after getting cleared by the commission.

Another requirement which proved to be a challenge was to get two voters who also did not belong to any political party to endorse them.

Joshua Ndere, a lawyer by profession also eyeing the seat as an independent candidate, got cleared to vie.

“The process was good; the names I submitted were cleared. We just had a small challenge where I was supposed to submit a banker’s check; however I have been given till Monday to do so,” said Ndere.

Eric Gitonga, who is eying the Nyali (Photo by Courtesy)

The two are among 15 aspirants seeking to unseat former journalist Mohammed Ali who won the seat as an independent candidate in the 2017 elections.

Both have called for peaceful campaigns ahead of the August elections.

Millicent Odhiambo, a Wiper Party candidate was also cleared for Nyali parliamentary seat.

She said she is ready to face her male opponents in the fiercely contested seat of Nyali.

She said she is equal to the task and ready to hit the ground   

The Nyali seat has attracted 16 candidates, eight vying as independents with the other eight vying through political parties.

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