This archive report was first published on 10 September 2019.
On September 10, 2019, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced that it had cleared 23 candidates to contest in the Kibra Constituency by-election set for November 7.
Of the 23 candidates, 16 will be vying under various political parties, while 7 will contest as independent candidates.
The IEBC stated that 30 candidates had initially registered to contest for the seat, but 7 aspirants were either disqualified or failed to appear for clearance.
Among those disqualified was Jubilee Party candidate McDonald Mariga, who was kicked out of the race due to his failure to register as a voter, with his name not found in the 2017 voters' register.
Mariga's disqualification was met with opposition from Jubilee, which has since faulted the decision and is expected to file an appeal.
The Kibra parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of former Member of Parliament Ken Okoth, who succumbed to cancer.
IEBC announced in a gazette notice dated August 16 that the campaigning period for the November 7 Kibra by-election would commence on September 9 and cease on November 4, 48 hours before the polls.
Former Raila Odinga aide Eliud Owalo was unveiled as the Musalia Mudavadi-led Amani National Congress (ANC) party's candidate in the race, while Eng. Khamisi Butichi will fly the Ford Kenya party's flag.
