Kethi out of Makueni Senate by-election

By Standard Digital Reporter

NAIROBI, KENYA: The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Monday ruled that Kethi Kilonzo is not a registered voter hence locking her out of the Makueni Senate by-election.

In a ruling by IEBC Nominations Dispute Resolution Committee revoked Kethi’s nomination and at the same time ordered investigations into how she acquired an acknowledgement slip indicating that she was a registered voter.

At the same time, the IEBC upheld the nomination of Jubilee candidate Phillip Kaloki after dismissing allegations that he was a member of more than one party.

The ruling has ended Kilonzo’s bid to succeed her late father Mutula Kilonzo.

During the hearing, IEBC director, in-charge of voter registration Immaculate Kasait, while testifying before the committee worsened the situation for Ms Kilonzo when she said the lawyer was not a registered voter in the country.

She had explained that the slip in Ms Kilonzo’s possession was a subject of police investigation as it had been stolen from a booklet that was used to register former President Mwai Kibaki only at the launch of the registration exercise.

Kilonzo, however, put up a spirited fight before the committee insisting that she was a registered voter despite IEBC officials maintaining that the acknowledgement slip was obtained fraudulently.