IEBC Declines to Revoke Sakaja’s Clearance to Vie for Nairobi Governor

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has declined to revoke the clearance of Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja to vie for the capital’s governor seat in the August 9th general election.

IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati says the electoral commission cannot revoke the clearance despite the Commission for University Education (CUE) withdrawing the recognition of Sakaja’s Bachelor of Science in Management degree from Team University in Uganda.

Chebukati indicated that the degree issue was settled by the IEBC disputes resolution tribunal that cleared him, and the only way the commission can reverse its decision to clear Sakaja to contest for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat is through a court order.

“The only way to compel the commission to revoke and/or reverse its decision is through a court order setting aside the decision by the tribunal,” Chebukati said in a letter to CUE.

Sakaja was cleared to vie for the seat on June 19th after a petition filed by Dennis Wahome was dismissed by the tribunal, which ruled that it lacks the jurisdiction to investigate and ascertain the validity of Sakaja’s degree.

Wahome, who was dissatisfied with the tribunal’s decision, went to the High Court arguing that Sakaja has no academic qualifications to vie as Nairobi’s governor.

On Friday, the High Court declined to stop the IEBC from including Sakaja on the ballot for the Nairobi governor race. Justice Anthony Mrima instead ruled that a case filed by Wahome be heard on July 4th.