Kiambu Assembly nomination list challenged in court.
A section of Jubilee
Party members have filed a petition seeking its intervention to nullify the
list of the gazette Nominated Members of the Kiambu County Assembly released
recently by the Independent and Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The petitioners, all women who lost in the Jubilee Party
primaries held on April 25th, claim that some of the names gazetted
did not meet the requisite threshold as stipulated by the law.
Elizabeth Muthoni Mbugua and Rahab Wanjiku Mwaura who both
vied for Kalimoni Ward seat in Juja and Ndarugo Ward in Gatundu South
respectively have filed a suit in court seeking cancel some these nominations.
“The applicants are aggrieved by the decision of IEBC and
thus wishes that gazette notice no 8380 published of Jubilee Party's nominated MCAs
for Kiambu County quashed,” read part of the plea presented to the court.
In their application at Milimani High Court Nairobi, the two
argue that, contrary to the decision of IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee
complaint No. 17 of 2017 delivered on July 28th 2017, Jubilee Party
illegally nominated Jane Wanjiru Gathiga, Lucy Njoki Mugure and Mercy Nungari
Ndung'u. They are also seeking to have the names of Susan Wanjiru Mwaura and
Yvonne Wanjiku Waweru deleted from the list.
They claim that the said nominees do not hail from the county,
notwithstanding that one of them is not a registered voter.
The petitioners also argued that the gazetted list failed
short of regional balancing, proportionality, equality and equity. They claim
that some of the 12 sub-counties had been sidelined, with some taking up
majority of the slots, thus lacked merit in the fair representation of the people
of Kiambu County.
According to the gazetted list, Ruiru Sub-County benefitted
from six slots, Thika five, three each for Kabete and Gatundu North while
Limuru and Kikuyu got two nominees each. Juja, Kiambu Town and Kiambaa and
Gatundu South sub-counties each got one nominee with Lari having none.
Earlier last week, another group of 85 women challenged the
same list arguing that it lacked inclusion and only comprised of persons who were
known to have campaigned for certain leading politicians within the county.
Among those in the list are said to be people whose
educational background is wanting and do not qualify as MCAs as per the law.
Under the umbrella of the Women Candidates Network of Kenya
(WCNK) through their lawyer, Gitobu Imanyara, they filed an urgent suit in
court seeking to have Attorney-General Githu Muigai, Senate and National
Assembly explain why they did preside over discriminatory laws that barred
women who made it to the ballot from being in the nomination lists.
Ms. Gladys Chania questioned the criteria used to come up
with the list, pointing out that it was largely the “wrong way of rewarding
politicians’ supporters”.
“Rewarding loyalists with positions meant for public service
is wrong and lacks merit. This simply means that no ordinary resident will ever
get nominated for these slots due to their lack of connection to politicians,
said Chania.
Dr. Juliet Kimemia who vied for Kiambu Senatorial seat said
that it was wrong as it compounded the problem that was in 2013 all over the
country.
“The lists across the country are a clear demonstration of
lack of political goodwill. Nominations were never meant to favour political power
brokers, persons who funded others people’s campaigns, their relatives,
loyalists or even girlfriends,” added Dr. Kimemia.
A judgment of IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee delivered on
July 28th 2017 said Mercy Nungari Ndung'u and Jane Wanjiru Gathiga
did not meet the requirements under the law and was therefore not validly
nominated.
The judgment signed by IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati and
Consolata Maina and Prof Abdi Yakub Guliye ruled that persons who are
registered as voters in other Counties other than Kiambu are unqualified for
inclusion in the party list since it contravened the law.
“The names are hereby rejected by the committee and should
be expunged from the Party list. The Jubilee Party is directed to submit four
new names to replace the names in compliance with the relevant laws and its
nomination rules within three days from the day of this judgment,” read part of
the judgment.
However, IEBC exonerated itself from blame saying Jubilee
Party went to court and got stay orders for list to be applied as it is subject
to hearing and determination of the case.
“Should the court rule otherwise, of course we will just
degazette,” said an official for the commission's legal department.
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