•They questioned why the commission imposed different rules from what was applied in 2013 and 2017 even as they claimed some individuals were being favoured.
•IEBC has cleared four presidential candidates locking out 13.
Three presidential hopefuls who were disqualified have told IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati to prepare for a tough court battle over what they termed as unfair treatment.
Jimi Wanjigi (Safina), Ekuru Aukot (Thirdway Alliance) and Reuben Kigame (independent) have said IEBC is being inconsistent in the application of its laws.
They questioned why the commission imposed different rules from what was applied in 2013 and 2017 even as they claimed some individuals were being favoured.
“There has been no change in what that law is since 2013, the same law was applied in 2017,” lawyer Willis Otieno, who was Wanjigi's running mate, said.
IEBC has cleared four presidential candidates locking out 13.
Chebukati had said they failed to pass the test to make it to the ballot.
The hopefuls addressed the press on Tuesday.
Otieno questioned how the law suddenly changed when Wanjigi appeared before the commission with his documents for clearance yet that is the law they were using when clearing the rest of the candidates.
The case, he said, would be filed by Thursday and will specifically be on the issue of the degree certificate that was required.
Terming the actions by Chebukati as a supplication to the law, Otieno said he disregarded what should have been a fair treatment accorded to everyone.
The lawyer cited letters he said they wrote to the commission to point out any issues with their documents but are yet to be responded to.
Wanjigi accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of his woes saying he wants to extend his rule through the backdoor by stifling other voices.
“You shall not succeed in muffling the voice of the people and giving them the voice that they want to speak for them on the ballot. Some of us knew these things were going to come and we were ready,” he said.
Aukot said the commission was clearing wrong candidates because it did not want alternative voices.
He poked holes into Raila Odinga's candidature saying he was cleared since he is a candidate of the system.
“I am going to make a case against each of the commissioners, we are not going to allow individuals to hide behind institutions. They cannot make decisions that are injurious to a country,” he said.
Kigame said he has already filed a court case seeking conservatory orders on the presidential process.
He said he was discriminated against for not getting the required attention as enshrined in Article 27.
“They refused to receive my documents despite presenting them on time,” he said.
“I took two boxes of signatures from 26 counties but they told me I was late which is a lie.”
Edited by Kiilu Damaris