Wiper’s Katana quits Kilifi race after IEBC rejects nomination
Prof Gabriel Katana (centre), who was the Wiper governorship nominee in Kilifi County, addressing journalists in Kilifi Town on June 3, 2017. He announced that he had pulled out of the race. On Friday, the IEBC declined to clear him because he was found to be a member of two political parties. PHOTO | KAZUNGU SAMUEL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The Pwani University lecturer claimed his failure to get clearance was politically instigated.
- His exit from the race is a big relief to the incumbent Governor Amason Kingi.
- In Kilifi County, four candidates have been cleared for the governorship race.
- They are Amason Kingi, Kazungu Kambi, Gideon Munga’aro and Benjamin Dadu.
Kilifi County Wiper governor nominee Gabriel Katana has bowed out of the race after the electoral agency failed to clear him on Friday, dealing a big blow to the Nasa affiliate Party.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declined to clear Prof Katana when he appeared as a candidate in two different political parties – the Vibrant Democratic Party of Kenya and the Wiper Democratic Movement.
Speaking at Kilifi Social Hall, the Pwani University lecturer claimed his failure to get clearance was politically instigated.
His exit from the race is a big relief for incumbent Governor Amason Kingi, who is defending his seat on an ODM ticket.
RELIEF FOR KINGI
Political pundits in Nasa circles feared that Prof Katana would give Mr Kingi a run for his money and an ensuing bruising battle would have split the Nasa votes and given an easy win to the Jubilee candidate, Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro.
“Kilifi people have for long aspired to see change in leadership. A leadership full of prudence and hope.
"Their hope was anchored in Gabriel Katana’s candidature, but today I want to make it clear that I will not be in the race because I failed to get clearance from IEBC,” said Katana.
Prof Katana said he has never been a member of the Vibrant Democratic Party and was shocked when he learnt that he belonged to two parties.
ANOMALY
“I was informed by IEBC of the anomaly and started the process to deregister myself from Vibrant party on May 16. My running mate, Duncan Nyale, went to the party headquarters and we wrote to the office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
"Unfortunately I was deregistered from both parties, and by Thursday, I was trying to re-register in Wiper. The system was down and I could not get registered at the Registrar of Political Parties,” added Prof Katana.
He added that he was a member of Wiper along with Vibrant party leader Hezron Awiti before the latter quit and formed his own party.
“I think in the process of trying to get members, he decided to pick me as his governor candidate for Kilifi County.
"What perplexes me the most is that I was even registered with a running mate with whom I have never had any political links,” Prof Katana said.
POLITICAL INFLUENCE
According to IEBC records, his running mate in Vibrant party is Alphonce Mbura.
“I put the blame on political influence and my party (also) did not act promptly. The Registrar of Political Parties could also have found other means of sorting out the matter, because it’s their system,” he said.
In Kilifi County, four candidates have been cleared for the governorship race.
They are Amason Kingi (ODM), Kazungu Kambi (Kadu Asili), Gideon Munga’aro (Jubilee) and Benjamin Dadu (Amani National Congress).
Prof Katana said he will soon advice his supporters which candidate to support.
