This archive report was first published on 16 September 2019.
On September 16, 2019, the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Disputes Resolution Tribunal cleared former Harambee Stars midfielder McDonald Mariga to vie in the Kibra Constituency by-election.
Mariga's nomination for the November 7 mini poll was invalidated by the electoral agency last Tuesday because his details were missing from the voters roll of 2017.
However, in a ruling by IEBC's dispute resolution tribunal, Commission Chairman Wafula Chebukati announced that Mariga is eligible to vie for the MP's seat that fell vacant following the death of Ken Okoth in July.
Chebukati stated that the returning officer, who had blocked the football star, did not take into account the updated register from Starehe Constituency.
Mariga's legal team, led by Elisha Ongoya, had called on the committee to remedy the error and allow the complainant to take part in the mini poll.
Now cleared, Mariga is hoping to be among the footballers who have left the playing fields of football and excelled in politics, notable among them legendary Milan and Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko, who scored goals for fun throughout his playing career, 1994 World Cup winner Romario, and former PSG, AC Milan, and Monaco striker George Weah, who is now the President of Liberia.
