Philip Kaloki claims Wiper party plotting to block his Makueni senate bid

Philip Kaloki (right) vying for Makueni senate seat accuses Wiper party, from where he decamped, of plotting to block him. (Photo:Collins Kweyu/Standard)

By Daniel Nzia

Makueni, Kenya: The Makueni Senate candidate for NARC, Philip Kaloki has hit out at his former Wiper party for scheming to block him from contesting the seat.

Wiper has moved to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Disputes Resolutions Committee to challenge his clearance claiming he was still their member.

Sunday, Kaloki termed the move by the party to challenge his candidature in the July 22 by election as in bad faith.

He clarified that he had complied with the laid down election rules and regulation saying he resigned from the party in May as required.

“The question of whether I belong to NARC is neither here or there because I followed the law when ditching Wiper,” Kaloki told The Standard on telephone.

He also dismissed as unfounded claims by Wiper that he was time barred in presenting his nomination documents saying IEBC had set 26th and 27th for the exercise and he did so on the 2th June.

According to Wiper, Kaloki should be disqualified because he belonged to three parties, namely Wiper, URP and NARC by the time he presented his nomination papers on June 27.

Kaloki who pitched tent in Makueni Sunday exuded confidence he will clinch the seat left vacant following the death of the late Mutula Kilonzo on April 27.

He assured Makueni residents that he would strive to unite them for posterity if elected the senator on July 22.

Kaloki said he would fight for enhanced resources allocation to the county in addition to sourcing for international financial aid.

Makueni residents are anxiously waiting for outcome of the ongoing tribunal case at the Milimani Law Court challenging the eligibility of his candidature and that of Wiper candidate Kethi Kilonzo.