BY SAM ALFAN.

Presidential aspirant Solomon Peter Gichira has been allowed to present his nomination papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) within 36 hours.

“I hereby compel the respondent (IEBC) to receive the applicant’s documents for nomination and make a determination thereon within 36 hours of the said receipt and finish the applicant with reasons for the it’s decision” ordered Odunga.

High Court Judge George Odunga compelled the 犀利士
national elections agency to accept and scrutinize Gichira’s documents and determine his suitability to join the presidential race as an independent candidate.

The candidate should be informed in writing on whether he qualifies to join eight other presidential candidates who have already been vetted and approved to participate in the August 8 General Election, the Judge said.

IEBC was slapped with the cost of the application.

The Chairman of the IEBC, Wafula Chebukati, had maintained that Gichira was time-barred and disqualified from the race for non-compliance with statutory requirements.

But the prospective candidate had through his lawyer Gachie Mwanza claimed the IEBC boss disobeyed express court orders allowing him to present a list of signatures of his supporters beyond the time-lines set by the national elections agency.

Chebukati said in court papers that he did not receive the mandatory nomination lists from Gichira between May 18 and 22 and he did not tender any evidence to prove he complied on May 19.

He said Gichira went to the IEBC offices at Anniversary Towers in Narobi on May 26 with a list of 57,382 names and signatures of his supporters for verification. However, the High Court had not extended time to accommodate him and he was time-barred.

Chebukati explained to Justice Odunga that Gichira did not present his nomination papers at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre between May 28 and 29 or send his authorized representative.

“The allegation by Gichira that IEBC engineered his arrest and detention to prevent him from presenting his nomination papers is false and has not been substantiated,” he said.

But Gicira said he could not have gate-crashed the nomination exercise at the KICC after he had been mistreated by IEBC officials. “There are so many lies and inconsistencies by the IEBC that leaves no doubt that the whole process of verification and clearance of my candidature was flawed. There was obviously a conspiracy to lock me out of the presidential race,” he said.

Justice Odunga had nullified restrictions imposed on independent presidential candidates to enlist supporters who have no political affiliation. Similarly, the court outlawed the requirement by IEBC that independent presidential aspirants submit signatures of their 2,000 nominees from 24 Counties through electronic format.

BY SAM ALFAN.

High Court will determine on Friday the candidature of independent presidential aspirant Solomon Gichira.

The Chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Wafula Chebukati, has maintained that Gichira was time-barred and disqualified from the race for non-compliance with statutory requirements.

The prospective candidate insists that the IEBC boss disobeyed express court orders allowing him to present a list of signatures of his supporters beyond the time-lines set by the national elections agency.

Chebukati says in court papers that he did not receive the mandatory nomination lists from Gichira between May 18 and 22 and he did not tender any evidence to prove he complied on May 19.

He says Gichira went to the IEBC offices at Anniversary Towers in Narobi on May 26 with a list of 57,382 names and signatures of his supporters for verification. However, the High Court had not extended time to accommodate and he was time-barred.

Chebukati explained to Justice George Odunga that Gichira did not present his nomination papers at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre between May 28 and 29 or send his authorized representative. “The allegation by Gichira that IEBC engineered his arrest and detention to prevent him from presenting his nomination papers is false and has not been substantiated,” he said.

But Gichira through his lawyer  Stephen Gachie Mwanza said he could not have gate-crashed the nomination exercise at the KICC after he had been mistreated by IEBC officials. “There are so many lies and inconsistencies by the IEBC that leaves no doubt that the whole process of verification and clearance of my candidature was flawed. There was obviously a conspiracy to lock me out of the presidential race,” he said.

He wants the national elections agency blocked from making any further preparations for the presidential election, including printing of ballot papers, pending the outcome of his petition.

Justice George Odunga had nullified restrictions imposed on independent presidential candidates to enlist supporters who have no political affiliation. Similarly, the court outlawed the requirement by IEBC that independent presidential aspirants submit signatures of their 2,000 nominees from 24 Counties through electronic format.

Gichira was charged with attempted suicide, malicious damage to property and creating disturbance following his altercation with IEBC officials and police officers on May 26 at the Anniversary Towers offices in Nairobi. He was released on Sh200, 000 cash bail after denying the charges.