Aspirants With Graft are allowed to Run For any seat-IEBC

By Judy Jerono The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has now made it clear that those facing integrity charges can still vie for any seat in the August General polls. While issuing the statement, IEBC’s Director of Legal and Public Affairs Chrispine Owiye stated that through an affidavit, any person is legally presumed innocent until proven guilty adding and that no one will interfere with judicial processes adding that it is not possible to block such candidates from contesting in the election. “We might have the integrity records of an individual but unless it is backed by an order of a court or quasi-judicial body,” Owiye said This comes after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said it will not be charging politicians over graft during the campaign period to give them time to focus on getting the votes. The commission cited that it is the right of an individual to contest as long as they are not proven guilty by the court. President Uhuru Kenyatta together with his Deputy William Ruto were facing charges of crime against humanity at the time and were cleared to run for the president and deputy president posts respectively. “The commission understands the court's decision in the case against President Kenyatta and DP Ruto that we must strike a balance between the right of an individual to contest in an election and the presumption of innocence of any accused person,” IEBC’s Director of Legal and Public Affairs Chrispine Owiye swore in the affidavit. The IEBC agency, however, said that it was the duty of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to provide integrity records of individuals, although they are not enough to bar someone from vying. Activists Omtatah had filed a case wanting politicians of questionable integrity barred from vying for political seats where he argued that giving the said politicians chance to lead the public office, is a threat to Kenya’s constitutional order.