Impeached Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and his Nairobi counterpart Mike Sonko have
been barred from holding any public office by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission
(EACC).
The EACC in a statement dated December 29, said that any person intending to contest in by-
elections must meet the threshold required of the person by Chapter Six of the Kenyan
Constitution 2010.
“EACC advises that all persons offering themselves as independent candidates or seeking party
nominations for election must meet the integrity threshold under Chapter 6 of the Constitution,”
EACC boss Twalib Mbarak said.
Waititu and Sonko were impeached by the senate on claims of abuse of office and gross
misconduct.
The commission said it would not clear anyone who has been removed from office or impeached
on grounds of violating the integrity chapter of the constitution.
The EACC's decree deals a blow to Waititu who recently entered the race for the vacant Nairobi
gubernatorial seat following Sonko's impeachment.
He further announced that the EACC will conduct an integrity vet on all candidates for the
upcoming by-elections and communicate its findings with the IEBC.
“EACC calls upon all Kenyans to take up and effectively discharge their constitutional
responsibility in accordance with their sovereignty provided under Article 1 of the Constitution.
Voters should strive to elect men and women of integrity. Whereas EACC and other law
enforcement agencies are tasked to vet candidates for integrity suitability, the ultimate and most
effective vetting is vested in the citizens’ unfettered powers to cast votes and freely elect leaders
of their choice,” added Mbarak.
By JN Wamanji
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