Court temporarily bars IEBC from printing Mombasa Governor ballot papers

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko. [File, Standard]

The high court has issued interim orders barring the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) from printing ballot papers for Mombasa Governor candidates.

Sonko had moved to the High Court to contest the IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee’s decision that locked him from contesting for Mombasa County’s top job.

In a three-judge bench ruling issued on Monday, the court has also issued conservatory orders stopping the IEBC from gazetting the names of the six Mombasa Governorship candidates pending the hearing and determination of Sonko's application.

Moreover, the bench stopped Wiper Party from nominating another candidate pending the hearing of the petition.

A three-judge bench sitting in Mombasa, Justices Olga Sewe, Ann Ong'injo' and S. Githinji, issued the interim orders on Monday morning.

IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati said Sonko was disqualified because he had been impeached during his tenure as the Governor of Nairobi County.

He was kicked out of office on allegations of gross violation of the Constitution.