IEBC: Only court can reverse decision to clear Johnson Sakaja

 Nairobi Governor aspirant Johnson Sakaja. [Wilberforce Okwiri,Standard]

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati has declined to revoke the clearance of Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja.

Sakaja is running for Nairobi governor in the forthcoming August 9 General Election.

In a letter addressed to Council for University Education (CUE) chief executive officer Mwenda Ntarangwi, Chebukati says the degree issue was deliberated upon by the commission’s disputes resolution tribunal that cleared him.

According to him, the only way IEBC can reverse its decision to clear Sakaja to contest as a governor in the election is through a court order.

“The only way to compel the commission to revoke and/or reverse its decision is through a court order setting aside the decision by the tribunal,” the letter reads.

Sakaja was cleared to vie for the seat on June 19, 2022, after a petition filed by Dennis Wahome was dismissed by the tribunal.

In their ruling, they cited the lack of powers to investigate and ascertain the validity of the Bachelor of Science in Management degree from Uganda's Team University that Sakaja presented to IEBC for clearance.

Aggrieved by the tribunal’s decision, Wahome went to the High Court arguing that Sakaja has no qualifications to vie as Nairobi’s governor.

The response from IEBC comes two days after CUE wrote to the commission informing them of their decision to revoke Sakaja’s degree for failure to submit evidence that he studied in the said university. CUE sought to have Sakaja’s clearance revoked by the commission.

The High Court on Friday, July 1, refused to stop the IEBC from including Sakaja on the ballot for the Nairobi governor contest.

Justice Anthony Mrima instead ruled that a case filed by Wahome be heard on Monday, July 4, 2022.