Written By Ramadhan Kambi 📝
A former Magarini MP David Noti Kombe who was vying for the Kilifi County Gubernatorial has been disqualified by the Independent Elections and Boundary Commission (IEBC).
The agency said Mr Kombe failed to have proper documents to enable him to vie for the top seat.
As a result, the former lawmaker will not be in the race as only six candidates were cleared to contest for the race to succeed Governor Amason Kingi who is finishing his second and last term in office.
Kilifi County returning officer Hussein Gurre said so far, they have cleared 16 candidates including eight women to view for the top county seats of Governor, Senator, and Women Rep.
Addressing journalists after the deadline of the registration period at the Kenya Red Cross conference hall in Malindi he said the one disqualified had issues with his degree certificate though he still has a small window open.
“He can lodge a complaint with the dispute resolution committee which is his right it’s not a problem, we could not register him because of that particular issue but six others were cleared,” he said.
Out of the six gubernatorial candidates, there is a woman.
He said there are four senators among them a woman and six-woman rep candidates who have been cleared to vie for the three top county seats.
Those cleared to view for Governor include Franco Esposito alias Kasoso Baya a Kenyan of Italian origin who was cleared to view as an independent candidate, Aisha Jumwa (UDA), George Kithi (PAA), Michael Tinga (Ford Kenya), Alphonce Dzombo Mbaru (Safina party) and Gideon Mung’aro of ODM.
Kombe who was disqualified belongs to the Umoja summit party of Kenya.
The candidates cleared to vie for the senate seat include Ben Kai (PAA) Caroline Chilango (ANC), Shukurani Mwabonje (UDA), and Stewart Madzayo of ODM.
Candidates cleared to vie for the woman rep Position include Juliet Riziki Baya alias Kachachawa (UDA), Christine Zawadi (PAA), Mary Luvuno (Independent), Gertrude Mbeyu (ODM), Maureen Ochieng (Independent) and Ephie Cheri of Kadu Asili.
“As far as Kilifi County is Concerned, we have cleared a total of 16 people for the three-county seats of Governor, senator, and county Woman member of national Assembly<’ he said.
Gurre said the exercise went on smoothly without any violence or intimidation and has received positive remarks that the exercise was conducted smoothly.
He appealed to the aspirants and their supporters to exercise peace during the campaign period which has officially started.
Earlier Kombe told journalists that he brought papers knowing everything was okay but since he schooled outside the country the Returning officer raised questions about his documents.
“I gave him all the documents required but he has rejected them I do not know why he refused I do not know where there are other issues which I do not know, but I have no problem because I am educated its only one document and he told me to go and get a police affidavit and write a letter to the IEBC Chairman and see him in person,” he said.
His major worry was that he was in Kilifi and the Chairman of IEBC was in Nairobi since the deadline was approaching and was not sure of completing the process on time.
Kombe told his supporters not to be discourage as he had received so many calls from the ground but maintained that he would be on the ballot.
The last Candidate to be cleared was Michael Tinga of Ford Kenya who has the youngest Deputy governor designate aged 25 years.
Tinga said IEBC officials did their work professionally and respect to all people who wanted clearance certificates to vie for different seats.
He said his campaigns would be public rallies and expressed confidence that he would win because in 2014 he also contested and out of the nine candidates he emerged fourth.
“Iam used to the process of vying for this seat more than the others who are starting for the first time, I also know where my votes are because winning the election is a matter of numbers so I know where my numbers are,” he said.
His Deputy Designate Livingstone Masha thanked God for enabling them to complete the process well and his governor for choosing a youth as his deputy.
He urged fellow youth of Kilifi to take advantage of the opportunity given by Tinga to elect him as the governor on August 9.
