The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has officially cleared impeached Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko to vie for the position of Mombasa Governor.
This unfolds after the High Court in Mombasa on Wednesday shelved the disqualification of the former Nairobi City County boss over reported impeachment claims.
A three-judge bench in Mombasa ruled that Sonko has an appeal pending at the Supreme Court and has not exhausted his options for contesting, it further directed that IEBC accepts Sonko’s documents and clear him to vie for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat.
Sonko, who has 25 days to woo Mombasa residents for votes under the Wiper Party ticket was handed the nomination certificate on Thursday after submitting his documents to the Mombasa County Returning Officer.
Immediately after the particular High Court ruling on his case, President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Azimio La Umoja chiefs were linked to the development as Sonko was spotted with the head of state earlier in the week campaigning for Raila Odinga.
Sonko, however declined the involvement of Azimio in his reprieve;
“And if at all the President was in control of the judiciary why did the BBI case collapse at the High Court, Court of Appeal and even the Supreme Court?” he asked.
“The court had already indicated it would deliver its judgement hours before I met the Azimio bigwigs. Please don’t drag the Judiciary into political squabbles,” he said.
“Let us not tarnish the name of our good Judiciary. Judiciary is very independent. Hakuna kiongozi yoyote hata rais ama Raila ametusaidia.”
Mike Sonko has been in and out of court seeking his clearance from the IEBC.
