IEBC clears 23 candidates for Kibra by-election

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) says it has cleared 23 candidates to vie in the Kibra Constituency by-election slated for November 7.

According to the electoral commission, 16 candidates will vie under various political parties while 7 will contest as independent candidates.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, IEBC said 30 candidates had registered to contest for the seat but seven aspirants were either disqualified or did not appear for clearance.

Among those disqualified is Jubilee Party candidate McDonald Mariga.

Mariga was kicked out of the race on grounds that he is not a registered voter as his name could not be found in the 2017 voters’ register. Jubilee has since faulted the invalidation of Mariga’s candidature and is expected to file an appeal.

The Kibra parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of former Member of Parliament Ken Okoth, who succumbed to cancer.

In a gazette notice dated August 16, IEBC said the campaigning period for the November 7 Kibra by-election will commence  on Monday, September 9 and cease on November 4; 48 hours before the polls.

Late MP Ken Okoth’s brother Bernard ‘Imran’ Okoth will contest the seat on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party ticket after emerging victorious in the Saturday primaries.

Former Raila Odinga aide Eliud Owalo was unveiled as Musalia Mudavadi-led Amani National Congress (ANC) party’s candidate in the race while Eng. Khamisi Butichi will fly the Ford Kenya party’s flag.