Four to contest Makueni mini poll- IEBC
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Tuesday published the names of four candidates cleared to contest the Makueni Senate seat effectively sealing the fate of Kethi Kilonzo.
According to a gazette notice issued by the IEBC, the candidates include the National Rainbow Coalition’s Philip Kaloki, Jane Kitundu of the Labour Party of Kenya (LPK), John Harun Mwau of the Party of Independent Candidates of Kenya (PICK) and Urbanus Muthaka who is an independent candidate.
The commission chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan also gazetted 125 polling centres in Makunei County as required by the law ahead of the by election slated for July 22.
Mr Hassan’s notice is dated July 8, the same day an IEBC tribunal ruled on Ms Kilonzo's eligibility case.
The Makueni mini poll has been clouded in controversy following the questions surrounding the registration status of the Wiper Democratic Party candidate.
Ms Kilonzo is the daughter of Mutula Kilonzo, who was found dead at his Maanzoni ranch two months ago.
The city lawyer was locked out of the race after the commission ruled that she was not a validly registered voter despite possessing an acknowledgement slip from the IEBC.
It now not clear whether Cord will support Ms Kitundu whose party LPK is an affiliate.
Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama warned that Cord will not support any candidate associated with Jubilee.
“It is clear that we will fight for Makueni and let it be known that we are not going to support or lend our hands to candidates appreciated or connected to Jubilee Coalition,” Mr Muthama said.
