Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko

Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko’s nomination papers to run for governor of Mombasa have been temporarily halted.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was also prevented from approving Mr Sonko for the August 9 elections by Justice John Mativo of the Mombasa High Court.

The measures were ordered pending the hearing and decision of an application for conservatory orders made by three civil society organizations seeking to disqualify Mr Sonko from running for office.

IEBC was likely to authorize and clear Mr Sonko to run in the election for which he has been nominated by the Wiper party, according to Haki Yetu, Kituo Cha Sheria, and Transparency International.

The organisations claimed in their appeal that Mr Sonko was dismissed from office for breaching the Constitution by failing to enhance public trust in the integrity of the governor’s office, among other things.

“Having been found unsuitable to hold the office of the Governor of Nairobi City County, Mr Sonko is equally unsuitable to hold any other state office,” the argued.

The former governor, the Wiper party, and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) have all been sued by the organisations.