Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has moved to court to sue Wafula Chebukati led commission IEBC for barring him from contesting in the Mombasa gubernatorial debacle.
Sonko says he has spent a lot of money and resources campaigning for Mombasa gubernatorial position thus his fundamental human rights will be violated being out of the race
Through his lawyer John Khaminwa, Sonko argued that the move by the electoral body to bar him was improper, unprocedural and unlawful.
Sonko further said that it is prejudicial to be excluded from vying due to his impeachment, arguing that his impeachment proceedings have not been concluded and that they are currently pending at the Supreme Court.
“The respondents’ decisions to exclude the applicant from vying for a gubernatorial seat in the 2022 elections are premature and prejudicial and they individually and collectively are oppressive and have already caused irredeemable damage to the applicant,” reads the suit.
Sonko was barred alongside other two impeached leaders including former Kiambu Chief Executive Committee Member for Youth Karungo wa Thang’wa and Chitavi Mkala, former Chief Executive Officer of Malindi Water and Sewerage Company Ltd.
Chebukati affirmed that the disqualification is applicable to persons dismissed for offending provisions of Article 76, 77 or 78 (2) of the Constitution.
He explained that the trio aren’t eligible to run for public office after being removed or barred holding public office over integrity issues as stipulated in the Chapter six of the constitution.
“The reason for disqualification was and remains that he was removed from office for abuse of public office,” Chebukati said while responding on Sonko.