Court to determine Waititu's Kabete candidature

Ferdinand Waititu is eyeing the Kabete Parliamentary seat that was left vacant following death of George Muchai. (Photo:File/Standard)

Aspirants in the Kabete by-election opposed to Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) candidate Ferdinand Waititu are banking on a court case to be determined Tuesday.

The case, which has been filed under a certificate of agency by Benson Ritho, seeks to bar Mr Waititu from vying for the MP seat.

JAP has been listed as the first respondent while the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as the second respondent. Waititu is the interested party.

Mr Ritho filed the case before Judge George Odunga at the High Court. He wants the court to nullify Waititu's candidature in the Kabete race on grounds that he lacks the integrity to hold a public office.

Ritho has accused Waititu of grabbing his 50 acres in Embakasi and of using his political might to frustrate him.

He also accused the former Embakasi MP of hate speech from remarks he made years ago, ordering the Maasai to leave Kayole.

Justice Odunga will deliver the judgement Tuesday, which either way will change the political temperatures in Kabete, with only six days left before the by-election.

Dominant party

Waititu is seen as the frontrunner in the race as he is contesting on a JAP ticket, which is the dominant party in the region.

George Mungai, an independent candidate, is optimist that if Waititu is locked out of the race, he will be the next option for Kabete residents.

"If the court decides that Waititu is out, the best option will be the independent candidate. This is the mood in many parts of Kabete constituency," Mr Mungai told The Standard.

John Wamagata, who is running on a Safina ticket, said he was anxiously waiting for the judgement in the hope that if Waititu was locked out, he would carry the day as the next Kabete MP.

Kiriro wa Ngugi of Democratic Party (DP) said his chances of becoming the next Kabete MP would be higher as he is prepared to change the way politics is done if he takes the seat.

From the look of things, all the other candidates have a chance only if Waititu is locked out of the race, something they remain optimistic about as they count the hours to the judgement.

The Kabete seat became vacant following the assassination of George Muchai on February 7. He was killed alongside his two bodyguards and a driver.