Presidential aspirant arrested over ‘suicide bid’ at agency offices

A presidential aspirant has been arrested for attempting suicide at the electoral commission headquarters.

Peter Gichira, who successfully petitioned the High Court to ease restrictions on independent candidates, is said to have tried to take his life by jumping from the six floor on learning he had been locked out of the race.

Gichira, who is vying as an independent candidate, was locked up at Central Police Station where he spent Saturday night.

He had visited the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices in Nairobi hoping he would be cleared.

However, when he was informed he could not be cleared, he reportedly got furious and tried to jump from the sixth floor of Anniversary Towers in Nairobi before guards restrained him.

Gichira had arrived at the IEBC offices in the afternoon to seek clarification on the list of those to be cleared when he received the bad news.

Witnesses said he sought audience with the IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati and when he was referred to the commission’s secretariat, he turned violent and attacked secretaries.

It was then that he allegedly pushed a window and tried to jump out.

Nairobi police boss Japheth Koome said Gichira will be charged with causing disturbance, destruction of property and attempted suicide.

Present papers

“He broke a window and tried to jump down from the sixth floor of the building after he was informed he would not be cleared to present his papers for the presidency as an independent candidate. He will be in court on Monday,” said Koome.

But in a Facebook post, Gichira said he was being punished for protesting against IEBC for rejecting the signatures he had presented as endorsement to contest the seat.

“They’re now accusing me of attempted suicide. I am however not giving up. I will be in court on Monday to get compelling orders to force them to nominate me,” he wrote.

His campaign manager David Muriuki claimed he was being punished by IEBC after he successfully challenged rules set on independent candidates in relation to the presidential seat.

Muriuki said Gichira’s arrest has been orchestrated by powerful individuals out to stop his bid.

“Remember he is the one who petitioned to ease rule on independents and that is why they are punishing him,” said Muriuki.

Gichira’s lawyer, Gachie Mwanza, said he will ensure he is freed at the same time get his name on the ballot ahead of the August 8 elections.

“I came here to meet the DCIO so we can process the bail for him but the investigating officer has said he has received strict orders from above to keep him here so he can be taken to court tomorrow,” said Gachie.

Kelly Watimah, Gichira’s running mate, accused the IEBC of being manipulated by ‘powerful forces’ to cause them problems.

“IEBC is not independent. They are being used by somebody to frustrate us. It is not the the work of the opposition. Sometimes I think they already have the winner for presidential seat,” said Watimah.

Support candidate

Watimah said they will not support any candidate in the August 8 General Election even if IEBC fails to clear them.

Gichira’s petition saw the High Court nullify sections of the Elections Act and also scaled down some of the requirements.

In his suit, Gichira said requirement that presidential candidates must submit supporters’ details in a Microsoft Excel format and must not be members of a registered political party was discriminatory.