Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has controversially contrasted former footballer McDonald Mariga’s woes after being barred from vying for the Kibra parliamentary seat with Oburu Odinga and Kennedy Kalonzo EALA appointments. In a tweet, Khalwale said, “I come from a most unequal country where Kennedy Kalonzo (@skmusyoka’s son) & Oburu Odinga (@RailaOdinga’s brother) are gifted free parliamentary seats in EALA but Mariga (a hustler’s son) is being denied a chance to COMPETE for a seat in Kibra! The Hustler Nation will speak..”. Mariga’s candidature for the Kibra seat on a Jubilee ticket was disqualified by IEBC after his details were found missing in the voter’s register.
On Wednesday, he filed a petition with the IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee contesting the decision. In an affidavit, Mariga, as the complainant, has challenged the decision of IEBC returning officer Beatrice Muli, saying the decision to invalidate his candidature violates his rights and fundamental freedoms protected by the Constitution and the Elections Act. He further outlined that he is a registered voter, contrary to the earlier revelation, “I registered as a voter on 26th August 2019 at Kariakor Social Hall Polling Station in Starehe constituency and I was issued with an acknowledgement slip bearing Electors No.0145211908261205-9….” he reveals in the affidavit.