- Kingi was sent away after his running mate showed up with photocopies of his documents, against the IEBC’s requirement of carrying original.
- Former Nyali MP Awiti and his running mate will appear before IEBC again on Tuesday.
Image: LABAN WALLOGA
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission on Sunday failed to clear two Mombasa gubernatorial aspirants for failing to adhere to all the set regulations.
The two —Mombasa Deputy Governor William Kingi and former Nyali MP Hezron Awiti Bollo — were sent away for failing to comply with all the requirements.
Kingi was sent away after his running mate, Amin Roble, showed up with photocopies of his documents, against the IEBC’s requirement of carrying both original and copies of the required documents.
Kingi and Roble had appeared before Mombasa county IEBC returning officer Swalha Ibrahim to present their nomination papers.
However, the two have been rescheduled to return on Monday to get clearance.
Efforts to get comments from Kingi were futile as he refused to address journalists. Calls made to him by the Star afterward also went unanswered.
Kingi unveiled Roble as his running mate on Saturday evening in an elaborate event held at a Mombasa hotel.
Roble holds a Master’s degree in Air Transport Management. He is also a graduate of Cranfield University in the UK.
He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business Management from the United States International University, Nairobi.
Kingi is running on Pamoja African Alliance Party allied to Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi.
Awiti, who is taking a second shot at the seat and is vying using his Vibrant Democratic Party, was also turned away after showing up with an uncertified copy of his degree certificate.
"We had two issues: one the passport size photos we presented were too small compared to the size required," Awiti.
"The commission also requested a recent document from the university to prove by papers are certified. I will be flying to Nairobi on Monday to get the certification and come back.”
He is expected to return for clearance by IEBC on Tuesday.
Awiti was accompanied by his running mate, a 28-year-old Bethlin Kadzo Jembe.
Earlier on Saturday, the commission also turned away Daniel Munga, an independent aspirant, on technicalities.
Former Mombasa senator Hassan Omar vying for the seat on a United Democratic Alliance ticket allied to Deputy President William Ruto rescheduled his appearance before the commission to Monday.
Omar, who is also taking a second shot at the seat, was supposed to be cleared on Saturday afternoon.
The Mombasa governors' seat has attracted nine aspirants.
They are Munga (independent), Omar (UDA), Kingi (PAA) and Awiti of VDP.
Other aspirants are Anthony Chitavi (UDP), Said Abdalla of Usawa kwa Wote Party, Abdulswamad Nassir (ODM), Shafii Makazi of UPIA and former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko.
Abdalla and Nassir are expected to present their papers on Monday.
Shafii will present his papers on Tuesday morning.
Sonko was scheduled to present his papers on Tuesday afternoon, but on Saturday IEBC disqualified his candidature.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said Sonko is not eligible to run for office after he was impeached as Nairobi governor in December 2020.
(edited by Amol Awuor)