KENYA: IEBC tribunal begins hearings

By LUCAS BARASA

Former Maragua MP Elias Mbau is among politicians who have lodged petitions with the Independent Boundaries and Electoral Commission (IEBC) after the recent primaries.

Mr Mbau's complaint against The National Alliance (TNA) is set to be heard Thursday. He lost the TNA nominations in Maragua constituency.

Former Githunguri MP Njoroge Baiya, Mary Wambui, an aspirant for Othaya parliamentary seat and a ward representative aspirant in Kiambu County James Mbaruti also want the tribunal to hear their cases.

The three, who claim to have won the primaries, held a sit-in for over three hours at the IEBC's offices in Nairobi on Tuesday night, as they sought audience with senior officials over the status of their tickets.

Surprisingly, the candidates had been handed interim certificates by the TNA and told to wait for the original certificate.

“If our names were not forwarded to the IEBC by our party, then it should move to correct the fraud because we have given it that leverage through the law,” said a frustrated Mr Baiya.

The politicians claim they have reliable information their names had been replaced at the IEBC headquarters and their opponents handed the party tickets.

The IEBC tribunal has started listening to the petitions.

On Wednesday, it is expected to arbitrate on cases filed by different aspirants against Kenya National Congress (KNC), Federal Party of Kenya (FPK), Kanu, Narc, PICK, United Democratic Forum (UDF), Ford Kenya, New Ford Kenya, Wiper and United Republican Party (URP).

Petitions against TNA and ODM will come up for hearing on Thursday.

Kanu, PICK, FPK, Narc and KNC face one case each while UDF, New Ford Kenya and Ford Kenya have three. Wiper has five cases against it.

The tribunal is chaired by Commissioner Thomas Letangule.

Source: Daily Nation (24/01/2013): http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/IEBC-tribunal-begins-hearings/-/1064/1673076/-/1sb6l7/-/index.html