Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko showed interest in running on a Wiper party ticket to succeed Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho in April.
Following that, two petitioners filed a lawsuit in order to convince the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to deny Sonko’s candidacy for governor.
A three-judge High Court bench lifted interim injunction prohibiting former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko from submitting his nomination papers to the commission on Monday.
The court also ordered the Wafula Chebukati-led committee to rule on his eligibility to run for governor of Mombasa in this year’s elections.
Mike Sonko’s hopes, on the other hand, were dashed on Tuesday when the commission refused to clear the controversial lawmaker to run.
His impeachment while serving as Nairobi Governor was mentioned by the electoral commission as the reason he was not allowed to run.
At the same time, the IEBC informed the Governor that his degree had not been certified by the Commission for Higher Education, and hence he could not be cleared.
Swalhah Yusuf, the Returning Officer for Mombasa County, claimed she has not received any directives allowing the former Nairobi Governor to run for the seat in the General Elections on August 9.
This came just days after the IEBC chairman, Wafula Chebukati, barred Sonko from running for Governor of Mombasa.
He claimed that the impeached Nairobi Governor was unfit to fight for the seat in August’s elections.
The Commission received a report from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, he said.
