EACC dims Waititu’s ambitions to run for Nairobi gubernatorial seat

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Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, He is contesting for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat/COURTESY

Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu received a blow after the anti-corruption body dimmed his ambitions of becoming the next Nairobi Governor by permanently barring him from holding any public office.

Through a statement sent to newsrooms, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) boss Twalib Mbarak said the body has a constitutional responsibility to advise on the integrity compliance status of all eligible candidates.

“EACC advises that all persons offering themselves as independent candidates or seeking party nominations for election must meet the integrity threshold under Chapter 6 of the Constitution,” said Twalib.

The impeachment of his Nairobi counterpart Mike Sonko was also upheld on similar grounds thus the two cannot in any way hold public office.

Mbarak said any person found in accordance with any law to have misused or abused a state office or public office or in any way to have contravened Chapter 6 as contemplated under Articles 99(2)(h) and 193(2)(g) is also disqualified.

He added that any person otherwise found by the Commission to be in violation of Chapter 6 of the Constitution also remains disqualified.

The announcement complicates matters for Waititu despite having been cleared on Monday by the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu to run as an independent candidate in the Nairobi gubernatorial by-election slated for February 18, 2021.

Waititu was impeached in January for gross violation of the constitution, abuse of office, and gross misconduct – months after he was charged with sh.580 million irregular tender.

Sonko, on the other hand, was impeached on December 17 after the majority of the senators voted to uphold all the four charges leveled against him by Nairobi County MCAs.

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