Tuesday, July 23, 2013

IEBC rejects claim against Kilonzo Jnr

By LUCAS BARASA
Posted  Tuesday, July 23  2013 at  15:15
The electoral commission has rejected a petition challenging Mutula Kilonzo Jnr's nomination to contest the Makueni Senate by election.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chief executive James Oswago said the commission was focused on Friday's mini poll.
He said the IEBC had no jurisdiction to handle the petition by former assistant minister Agnes Ndetei after the High Court had ruled on it.
Mr Oswago said only the courts can block Mr Kilonzo Jnr's candidature.
"In the absence of a court decision to the contrary, the by election will proceed," said Mr Oswago.
He said the IEBC had a 90-day period to conduct the mini poll, which ends on Friday.
Mr Oswago confirmed that the names of the five candidates battling it out for the Makueni senatorial race will be on the ballot.
They are Jubilee’s Philip Kaloki , Harun Mwau of the Party of Independent Candidates of Kenya, Jane Kitundu of Labour Party of Kenya, Independent candidate Urbanus Muthoka and Mr Kilonzo Jnr.
On Tuesday, the IEBC's Nominations Dispute Resolution Committee said it would hear the complaint raised against the Wiper candidate at 2.30 pm Tuesday.
"Take notice therefore that the Commission Dispute Resolution Committee shall hear this complaint on Tuesday 23rd July, 2013 at 2.30 .pm at the Commission’s 6th Floor Boardroom, Anniversary Towers,” chairman Thomas Letangule said.
The chairman issued the notice to Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, Wiper Democratic Movement, Michael Kimani Horeria and the Returning Officer Salad Boru who are parties to the dispute to appear for the hearing or send their representatives.
He warned that the committee will continue with the proceedings even if the parties failed to attend.
Former assistant minister Agnes Ndetei has filed an appeal in court seeking to block Mr Kilonzo Jnr from contesting.
Last week, the High Court granted Wiper the right to nominate another candidate for the Makueni by-election slated for Friday.
This was after the court upheld Mr Letangule’s committee's decision to revoke Kethi Kilonzo’s nomination on grounds that she was not a registered voter.

No comments:

Post a Comment