Wiper Party has reversed its decision of backing former Nairobi Governor, Mike Mbuvi Sonko, in contesting the Mombasa Gubernatorial seat, following the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s (IEBC) failure to act on the Party’s request to replace Sonko with his running mate Ali Mbogo, the incumbent Kisauni Member of Parliament.The Party however stated that it would continue pushing for Sonko to be cleared regardless of the charges he is facing in court.
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On the other hand, IEBC asserted to pay a deaf ear to the Wiper Party’s letter wanting the clearance of Mike Sonko to run for Mombasa governor considering that the Party is out of the timebound, the 72 hours timeline granted to them by the commission.“We received a letter from IEBC drafted on June 30, indicating the names submitted were time-barred,” Eunice Lumallas, the party’s lawyer stated. Initially, the Wiper Party called for Sonko to deputize Mbogo who the party believed would have been a walk in the park for IEBC clearance.The party awaits a decision by the High Court regarding Sonko’s eligibility to run, a case expected to be determined next week.Sonko’s candidature has seen the party and the IEBC battle it out in court following Wafula’s Chebukati’s decision to block the former governor from the polls on the grounds that he was impeached.This was based on a list of 241 politicians submitted by the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC). Previously, Wiper party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, maintained that he would support Sonko through the hurdles stating that he was even willing to lodge the matter to the Supreme Court to ensure that Sonko is cleared to vie.“I have been struggling to have Mike Sonko become the governor of Mombasa and I am still on it. He will be deputized by Ali Mbogo,” Kalonzo said.
