Poll team hopefuls disqualified
Lawyer Wakahiu George Njenga who was disqualified as a candidate for the post of chair of the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) over integrity issues October 12, 2011. BILLY MUTAI
Two candidates were disqualified from interviews for chairperson of the new electoral body that ended on Wednesday. (Read: Candidate taken to task over 2007 polls)
Mr Wakahiu George Njenga and Mr Kinuthia Mwangi Wamwangi fell short of Chapter Six on leadership and integrity before the panel interviewing people to chair the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
Mr Njenga, a lawyer, was turned away after he gave false information about his membership of a professional body.
Mr Mwangi, on the other hand, was disqualified for not being tax compliant.
The panel had set strict conditions for interested people in a bid to lock out criminals and tax defaulters.
Seek clearance
For the first time, applicants were required to seek clearance from the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, National Security Intelligence Service, Criminal Investigations Department, Kenya Revenue Authority, Director of Public Prosecutions, Helb and bodies like the Law Society of Kenya.
Mr Njenga told the panel he had never been a member of the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya (ICPSK), contrary to information in his Curriculum Vitae.
It later emerged he had been deregistered.
“We have a letter from the professional body informing us you were deregistered,” said panel chairman Dr Ekuru Aukot.
Asked to clear the air, Mr Njenga said: “I had applied to the ICPSK board as well as the Law Society of Kenya for membership. At ICPSK, I was told I could not be a member of both organisations and had to choose one. I chose the LSK.”
The decision to disqualify Mr Njenga came on the day Interim Independent Electoral Commission chair Isaac Hassan strived to convince the panel to give him a chance to oversee the next elections.
“I have been tried and tested. I have been called names, accused of being partisan, received calls telling me to toe. But I have remained firm and delivered,” he said.
“I want to finish the job I started by conducting the 2012 General Election. I believe I am the best candidate for the job,” he said.
Mr Hassan said the integrity of those who will conduct the next general elections was indeed important.
