IEBC Disqualifies Ekuru Aukot from August 9th Presidential Race

Thirdway Alliance party leader Dr. Ekuru Aukot has been disqualified from the August 9th presidential race for failing to meet the stringent nomination rules for a presidential candidate.

Aukot, who appeared before the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) at Bomas of Kenya on Sunday for clearance, failed to provide signatures and copies of the national identity cards of 48,000 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.

While vowing to challenge his disqualification in court, Aukot said it is unreasonable of the IEBC to demand supporters’ signatures and copies of IDs from the contestants.

He noted that he run for the presidency in the 2017 general election and was not asked to produce any signatures or ID cards proving his endorsement by Kenyans during clearance at the time.

“No Kenyan is willing to give you his ID card to photocopy, let us be realistic. I’m even wondering where the cleared candidates got the photocopied ID cards of Kenyans from,” he said

“We deliberately decided not to bring the signatures. People want to be bribed so that they can give you their ID cards to photocopy.”

Aukot, a lawyer by profession, garnered 27,311 votes (0.18 percent) in the 2017 presidential election and 21,333 (0.28 percent) in the repeat election ordered by the Supreme Court.

The electoral commission has so far cleared five presidential candidates including Deputy President William Ruto, Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition flagbearer Raila Odinga, Prof. George Wajackoyah of Roots Party, Walter Mong'are of Umoja Summit Party and lawyer David Mwaura Waihiga of the Agano party.