End of Road For Walter Mong’are As IEBC Revokes Presidential Clearance Certificate

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has revoked Walter Mong’are alias Nyambane’s clearance certificate.

Mong’are was the first presidential aspirant to receive approval to run for the top job last week.

The IEBC, on the other hand, announced on Monday, that they had identified a contradiction in his academic papers.

A presidential candidate must have at least a bachelor’s degree to run for president, the Constitution stipulates.

Read: Former Comedian Walter Mong’are To Vie for the Presidency

Mong’are was summoned to appear before the IEBC on Monday afternoon to produce confirmation of his academic papers, but he did not show up, said IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati.

“As the Returning Officer for the Presidential Election, upon discovery of new information on Walter Mong’are, as related to lack of academic qualifications, I invited him to appear before me today (Monday, June 6) at 2pm to clarify the issue. However, he failed to honour my invitation and I hereby revoke the nomination certificate of Walter Mong’are,” Chebukati said.

Presidential candidate for the Safina Party Jimi Wanjigi said earlier Monday that Mong’are had not completed his undergraduate studies and that the Umoja Summit Party presidential candidate lacked a bachelor’s degree.

Wanjigi made the assertions after the electoral commission failed to clear him for the presidential election when it was discovered that he had not completed an undergraduate degree.

Read Also: Fuming Wanjigi Out of Presidential Race Over Lack of Degree Certificate

Wanjigi is a Daystar University student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Security Studies.

The tycoon is apparently supposed to graduate on December 2022.

With Mong’are out of the race to State House, only four candidates will be on the ballot.

They are; William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Raila Odinga of the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition Party, George Wajackoyah of the Roots Party, and David Mwaure of the Agano Party.

Read Also: Raila Names Kindiki’s Brother Isaiah As Chief Agent

The IEBC rejected 14 applications out of eighteen (18) that had showed interest in succeeding President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Those rejected are Jimi Wanjigi (Safina Party), Ekuru Aukot (Thirdway Alliance), Walter Mong’are (Umoja Summit Party), Jeremiah Nyagah (Independent), Muthiora Kariara (Independent), Dorothy Kemunto (Independent), Ngaruiya Ng’ang’a (Independent), George Munyota (Independent), James Kamau (Independent) Juliet Munyeki (Independent), Justus Juma (Justice and Freedom Party), Peter Mumbiko (Independent) and Njeru Kathangu (Ford Asili).

The majority of the unsuccessful candidates were rejected because they did not collect enough signatures from their supporters.

A presidential contender must submit at least 48,000 signatures from registered voters in at least 24 counties, the electoral body dictates.

Read Also: Ekuru Aukot Locked Out of Presidential Contest, Vows to Challenge Raila’s Candidature

Photocopies of the supporters’ national identity cards must be attached to the signatures.

It was a drama filled day with independent presidential aspirant Muthiora Kariara setting his identity card on fire after his petition was rejected due to insufficient signatures.

IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati said action would be taken against the contender for defacing the card.

“We have the Election Offences Act. The powers of enforcing that law lie with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). We shall inform the DPP. I am sure action will be taken against the aspirant,” he said.