Mandago and Nyong’o want rivals locked out

The allies of Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago and Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o want the electoral commission to disqualify their rivals for associating themselves with Jubilee and NASA.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will this morning hear complaints against Mandago's rival, Zedekiah Bundotich alias Buzeki, as well as Nyong'o's competitor, Governor Jack Ranguma.

Bundotich and Ranguma are running as independent candidates after losing out in the Jubilee and ODM party nominations respectively.

The two are among 15 candidates summoned by IEBC’s Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee to answer charges of breaching the Elections Act.

They are accused of using the portraits of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga and the colours and symbols of Jubilee and NASA in their campaign materials and also perpetuating violence.

IEBC has fined individuals it found guilty of breaching the code a total of Sh4.9 million. The figure might go up as it continues to determine more cases.

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Price cuts: Why State could be taking undue credit
• 
  Bill on IEBC to be ready next week, says Parliament
• 
  IEBC to ODM: Our hands are tied over deputy governor post
• 
  This is the right time for Kenya to fix its broken electoral system

Ms Aloice Ager, a perceived Prof Nyong’o supporter, wants IEBC to punish Ranguma for using 'confusingly similar' colours to those of ODM, the party under which Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o is seeking to unseat him.

The petition by Ms Ager comes in the wake of a complaint by Prof Nyong’o last week that the incumbent was confusing his supporters by using the orange colour in his campaign materials.

And Peter Kibet Chepkonga, Mandago’s supporter, wants IEBC to punish Bundotich for using Uhuru’s portraits.

“Bundotich is an independent candidate and has breached the mandatory Electoral Code of Conduct and Election Act by using the image of Jubilee Party candidate Uhuru Kenyatta and running mate William Ruto in his publicity materials,” says the complaint.

“I therefore write to demand that your office investigates this matter urgently and disqualify the said candidate for gross breach of the elections code of conduct in a bid to give sanity and demonstrate fairness and discipline in the process,” adds the petitioner.

 “The committee has given directions and summoned the parties to the 15 cases (complainants and the accused persons) to appear before it for hearing on Thursday, July 27, 2017, at 9am,” said IEBC.

Jubilee and NASA candidates had hoped to have an edge, but the independents pulled a fast one by associating their campaigns with with the two leaders, in some areas even forcing Uhuru and Raila not to endorse their party candidates.

[email protected]