Sonko wins As High Court Halts Gazettement, Printing Of Candidate Names In Mombasa Governor Race

Published By Jane Njeri For The Statesman Digital
2 years ago

A three-judge Mombasa High Court bench has granted Mombasa Gubernatorial seat candidate Mike Sonko a reprieve, ordering the IEBC not to gazette or print the names of candidates vying for the county's top job.

The Wiper Party, which nominated Sonko, is also barred from nominating a replacement for Sonko.

Sonko sued Mombasa County Returning Officer Swalha Yusuf, the IEBC, and three others in the Mombasa court, accusing them of obstructing his governor bid.

The decision by the three-judge bench appointed by Chief Justice Martha Koome means that ballot paper printing for the Mombasa seat has also been halted.

Meanwhile, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has insisted that former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko will be on the ballot because he has not exhausted all legal options.

According to Kalonzo, who was speaking at the wedding of Fairdeal Furnitures CEO Mohamed Zakir's daughter in Mombasa over the weekend, the bench was likely to rule in favor of the former Nairobi governor.

The IEBC barred Sonko from vying for the Mombasa governor seat following his impeachment in 2018.

The IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee, where he went next, upheld the judgment.

The IEBC gave Wiper 72 hours to appoint a new governor for Nairobi, but the party chose not to do so and instead appealed to the Court of Appeal.