Reprieve for Jubilee’s Mariga as IEBC clears him to vie in Kibra by-election

The die has been cast or at least will be cast on November 7 at the Kibra parliamentary by-election.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Dispute Resolution Committee has cleared Jubilee party’s McDonald Mariga to vie for the seat, after it emerged that he was not a registered voter.

In his response, IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati said, “The complainant was duly registered as a voter.”

He further said that every document presented by Mariga was authentic. It emerged that he registered at the Kariokor Social Hall in 2016.

Chebukati has directed Kibra constituency Returning Officer Beatrice Muli to clear Mariga to enable him proceed with campaigns.

Speaking outside IEBC headquarters, Mariga said he is optimistic of the November 7 by-election, seeing as he is now cleared.  “Watu wa Kibra ndio wataamua atakayekuwa mbunge wao. Niko na documents zote. Hiyo sio shida kwa saa hii.” (The people of Kibra will decide who they want to vote. I have all the documents needed, that’s not a problem. Today was about the validity of my candidacy, which has been cleared.)