Economy

Wavinya Ndeti hits wall in race for governor

wavinya

Wiper nominee for the Machakos governor position Wavinya Ndeti. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Wiper nominee for the Machakos governor position Wavinya Ndeti has been locked out of the race after an election tribunal ruled she belonged to two political parties in breach of the law.

The IEBC tribunal ruled that Ms Ndeti was still a member of Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU) when she sought clearance to contest the Machakos governor’s seat under the Wiper party.

“We allow the complaint as presented for the petitioner that Ms Ndeti is not capable of being nominated having contravened the requirements of Section 31(2)(D) and Section 28 of the Election Act,” ruled the polls tribunal chaired by Wafula Chebukati.

Ms Ndeti was fighting for the seat against Dr Alfred Mutua of Maendeleo Chap Chap party and Machakos deputy governor Bernard Kiala who is contesting as an independent.

In the Wiper nominations she garnered over 220,000 votes against Mr Kiala’s 4,500 ballots.

The tribunal ruling followed a petition by Kyalo Peter Kyuli, a Member of County Assembly in Machakos, who argued that Ms Ndeti failed to beat the defection deadline on April 5.

The tribunal heard that Ms Ndeti became a member of Wiper on April 6 a day after the defection deadline. A search at the Registrar of Political Parties confirmed her as the party leader of CCU.