Mariga Finally Out Of Trouble

A few minutes ago, Political Parties Disputes Tribunal court chairperson Kyalo Mbobu has dismissed petition challenging the candidature of McDonald Mariga in the Kibra by-election.

Deputy President William Ruto candidate of Choice for the Kibra by-elections was facing trouble yet again after a voter went to court with allegations that pressure from the DP and top Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission officials led to the clearance of football star McDonald Mariga to vie for the Kibra parliamentary seat.

Mariga is said to have registered in Starehe 12 days after the Kibra seat was declared vacant, a factor the petitioner said was another ground for barring him from contesting. Mariga’s legal team submitted to the tribunal that the definition of a register under the Election Act is not limited to Kiems and that the decision by the Kibra returning officer to disqualify Mariga was ill-conceived, grossly illegal and tantamount to taking away his constitutional right.

The petitioner Morris Peter Kinyanjui wanted Mariga stopped from flying the Jubilee Party flag in the upcoming mini-poll because he was not validly nominated as per the party constitution and the Election Act.

Mbobu said the avenue in which Kinyanjui filed his petition was wrong and the court had no jurisdiction, whatsoever, to hear the matter.   The court said the Jubilee Party candidate’s nomination certificate has already been accepted by the electoral board, IEBC.

Kinyanjui lost the Jubilee Party ticket to Mariga, a move which left him accusing the ruling party of rigging him out of the race. The Kibra by-election is set to happen in November 7.