The controversy surrounding the authenticity of ODM candidate Willy Mtengo’s academic papers ended yesterday, when the IEBC cleared him to vie for the Malindi parliamentary seat in the March 7 by-election.
Mtengo was the first to be cleared by IEBC officials who termed the allegedly fake certificates issue a mere rumour that could not influence their decision.
He arrived at the IEBC offices at 8am accompanied by deputy ODM leader Ali Hassan Joho, Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and other Cord leaders who have pitched camp in Malindi to drum up support for him.
Hundreds of youth also gathered outside the offices and celebrated after Mtengo emerged with his certificate.
Cord leaders Raila Odinga, Moses Wetang’ula and Kalonzo Musyoka did not accompany Mtengo in the submission of papers.
Stephen Karani, the IEBC returning officer in charge of Malindi constituency, said he had no powers to question whether the papers were clean or fake or even the candidate’s integrity.
“I am treating the allegations of fake documents of Mtengo as mere rumours, there are institutions mandated to vet those documents and his integrity,’’ he said.
Karani said the ministry of Education and the EACC were mandated to probe the documents.
He said if there were anybody with a complaint and with evidence or a court order, there could well have been a problem.
“We have no problem with the academic papers, they are not part of what we use to vet candidates,’’ he said.
Another 10 candidates are expected to submit their nomination papers today.
“We divided the exercise into two days, the first five shall be cleared today and the rest tomorrow,’’ Karani said.
The candidates vetted yesterday were Mtengo (ODM), Attas Sharrif Ali (Labour Party of Kenya), Phillip Charo (JAP), David Mangi (Shirikisho) and FPK’s Nelson Gunga.
Other candidates include Reuben Katana (Kadu Asili), Farhan Mohamed (MDP), Peter Ponda (CCU), and Ahmed Maamun (NAM).
Charo, who was the third to be vetted, arrived in style, led by over 13 MPs and senators flanked by Majority leader in Parliament Aden Duale and Coast Parliamentary Group chairman Gideon Mung’aro.
After the clearance, Charo said he was happy to be confirmed as a contestant it is time now to hit the ground in full force to ask for votes.
“We are going to talk to voters and request them to vote for me, I am confident of winning on March 7.”
