Joho, Waititu, Sonko, Waiguru among 20 Aspirants Civil Society Wants Barred from Contesting August Polls
Civil Society organizations have recommended that two former cabinet secretaries, seven governors and other aspirants be barred from contesting for elective seats in the August 8 General Election.
The Civil society groups want ex-Cabinet Secretaries Anne Waiguru (Devolution) and Kazungu Kambi (Labour), as well as seven sitting Governors Evans including Evans Kidero (Nairobi), Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay), Kenneth Lusaka (Bungoma), Mwangi wa Iria (Murang’a), Alfred Mutua (Machakos) and Okoth Obado (Migori) be stopped from seeking or holding any public office.
According to report released by a section of civil society organizations, these individuals should be barred from seeking political office after violating some provisions under Chapter Six of the Constitution, the Elections Act, Leadership and Integrity Act among other laws.
Associate Director of Society for International Development (SID), Houghton Irungu, while releasing the list on Wednesday said that that they examined up to 1,500 cases were, of which the twenty they named were the most significant.
“We picked twenty because we think these are iconic in terms of the moment of truth that we are leaning into. If these twenty are cleared, my sense is that we will as country begin to challenge whether the chapter on integrity is still alive with us,” Irungu said.
Releasing report alongside Transparency International – Kenya Executive Director Sam Kimeu, revealed that their decision to name the twenty were based on key constitutional provisions as outlined in the Leadership and Integrity Act (2012) and Chapter Six of the Constitution.
“There are many standards that could be applied at a time like this. The first is of course a criminal standard that would rest on conviction and imprisonment of a particular candidate but we would find that to be a woefully low standard to apply and possibly an existential threat to the future of the county,” he argued.
“When we’ve looked at the number of convictions we’ve seen on corruption cases, they’re insufficiently few in number so we have to apply an ethical standard,” he added saying that was in fact “the spirit of the Constitution and the Leadership and Integrity Act.”
Others named in the report sanctioned by Inuka ni Sisi and Mzalendo Trust under the auspices of the National Integrity Alliance (NIA), are Nandi Hills legislator Alfred Keter who is accused of abuse of office, obstruction and harassment of legitimate authority at the Gilgil weighbridge on January 21, 2015.
Gatundu South counterpart Moses Kuria is said to be facing several counts including incitement to violence according to reports by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
The report says that Anne Waiguru, who is vying for the Kirinyaga gubernatorial seat, is still under investigations for loss of funds at the National Youth Service (NYS) during her tenure at the Ministry of Devolution and Planning adding that she is unfit to hold any public office.
Kazungu Kambi on the other hand faces queries from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over the irregular authorization of a Sh5.05 billion budget Tassia Phase 2 project of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) which is said to have been exaggerated.
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua faces investigation by EACC for alleged irregular procurement of 16 Subaru vehicles worth Sh147.3 million, ambulances worth Sh145.3 million and the construction of Kithimani-Makutano road at a cost of Sh568 million.
ODM Deputy party leader and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho is under the EACC radar for questionable academic credentials, according to the report.
Laikipia North MP Mathew Lempurkel, Elizabeth Ongoro, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi former Judiciary Registrar Gladys Shollei for procurement irregularities in the purchase of the official residence of the Chief Justice at a cost of Sh310 million, Kiambu gubernatorial aspirant Ferdinand Waititu who is said to be facing allegations of hate speech and questionable academic qualifications, Tiaty MP Asman Kamama for his involvement in Baringo clashes are others who are in the list of those recommended for barring.