Businessman Jimi Wanjigi Disqualified from Presidential Race over Lack of a University Degree

Safina Party’s Jimi Wanjigi has been disqualified from the August 9th presidential race over lack of a university degree.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati also said Wanjigi failed to submit the required number of signatures of registered voters who endorsed his presidential bid.

IEBC requires presidential contenders to collect at least 2,000 signatures from at least 24 of the 47 counties and make a copy of their identity cards as proof of consent.

“Degree certificate is mandatory and due to that, I am rejecting your application to be nominated as a candidate for the presidential election slated for August 9th, this year. That is my decision as the returning officer for presidential elections,” Chebukati ruled.

He indicated that Wanjigi only presented academic transcripts and a letter from Daystar University which shows that he is scheduled to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations and Security Studies in December 2022.

Wanjigi protested his disqualification, claiming that it was a plot to lock him out of the race while accusing the electoral commission of favoritism.

 “It is very clear what is going on here, there is a very clear 'mchujo' (elimination) being decided somewhere else, not here. You cannot apply different rules to different people, and if this is the intention and your direction as a commission, then I fear greatly for the coming elections,”. Wanjigi asserted.