Court: Sonko Cleared To Vie For Mombasa Governor

The court on Wednesday, July 13 ordered the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to clear him to run for the seat.

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Jul 13, 2022 - 10:27 Updated: Jul 13, 2022 - 10:44
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Court: Sonko Cleared To Vie For Mombasa Governor
Former Nairobi governor, Mike Sonko. /THE STAR

Former Nairobi governor, Mike Mbuvi Sonko has been cleared by the High Court to vie for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat in the August 9 general elections.

The court on Wednesday, July 13 ordered the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to clear him to run for the seat, ruling that the commission was unreasonable for refusing to accept certified copies of Sonko's academic papers. 

Justices O.A. Sewe, S. Githinji and Lady Justice Ong'injo had ruled that Sonko had met all the requirements by the IEBC to vie for the top county seat.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka (right) and Mombasa gubernatorial nominee Mike Sonko campaign at Changamwe roundabout in Mombasa on May 6, 2022. /DAILY NATION

The commission had initially turned down Sonko's papers on grounds that he was impeached as the Nairobi governor.

The court however revealed that the decision by IEBC to reject Sonko's papers was against the Constitution of Kenya, owing to an appeal against his impeachment at the Supreme Court which was pending.

The bench also restricted the Wiper Party from nominating another candidate due to the appeal.

IEBC had gazetted the candidates cleared to contest for various elective seats in the upcoming general elections, and Sonko's name was the surprise omission from that list.

Sonko will face off against Bollo Hezron Awiti (Vibrant Democratic Party), Hassan Omar (UDA), Jama Amin Ali (PAA), Mwaruwa Abdalla Hemed (Independent), Nzaro Salim Omar (UPIA), Nassir Abdullswamad Sheriff (ODM) and Omari Said Abdalla (Usawa Kwa Wote Party) for the top county seat.

The ruling comes a day after Sonko said he was optimistic the High Court would rule in his favour to allow him to contest the governor's seat.

“I will continue fighting in line with the law. I am not a person who gives up easily,” he said at the Amina Abdalla Rehabilitation centre for mental illness in Mombasa.

ODM leader Raila Odinga shares a moment with former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko at Wilson Airport on Tuesday, July 12, 2022. /RAILA ODINGA