This archive report was first published on 16 September 2019.
On Monday, the IEBC Dispute Tribunal made a ruling that cleared former Harambee Stars player McDonald Mariga to run for the vacant Kibra MP seat. The ruling was made after the tribunal found that Mariga was duly registered as a voter.
Mariga's name was initially invalidated by Kibra returning officer Beatrice Muli due to his name being missing from the register of voters. However, his legal team, led by lawyer Elisha Ongoyi, pushed Muli to admit that she made an error on her part.
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati stated, “It is our finding that the complainant was duly registered as a voter.” This saw the retired footballer back in the race.
Mariga had been awarded his nomination ticket by Jubilee Party to fly the ruling party's flag in Kibra but was later denied on grounds that he is not a registered voter. The Constitution bars Kenyans who are not registered voters from vying for an electoral seat.
Mariga's name was struck off the nomination list for the November 7 Kibra Constituency by-election after his name was not found on the electoral body register.
Mariga is a retired footballer who was the first Kenyan to play in and win the UEFA Champions League. He won it when he was playing for Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan.
