This archive report was first published on 16 September 2019.
McDonald Mariga Cleared to Vie in Kibra By-Election ¶
On September 16, 2019, the IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee, led by Wafula Chebukati, made a ruling that cleared Jubilee Party's candidate McDonald Mariga to vie in the Kibra by-election.
The decision came after the committee listened to all parties involved in the matter and found that Mariga was a duly registered voter, contrary to claims that his name was missing in the voters' register.
IEBC chairman Chebukati stated that the respondent's decision of September 10, 2019, was hereby set aside, and the respondent (Kibra returning officer) was ordered to clear Mariga as Jubilee Party's candidate in the Kibra by-election.
Mariga, who was flanked by his lawyers, including Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, thanked the electoral body for allowing him to participate in the Kibra mini poll, saying, "Justice has been served. I know people have said a lot about me but I am not someone who speaks a lot. I forgive them. Now we will go to Kibra to talk to the people."
Mariga will now face off with aspirants from other parties, including ODM's man Bernard Otieno Okoth alias Imran, Amani National Congress (ANC) party's Eliud Owalo, and Khamisi Butichi from Ford Kenya.
The Kibra parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of the area MP Ken Okoth on July 26, 2019.
