United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagu, is among 25 politicians NGOs want stopped from contesting in the coming August 9, General Election. GRAPHIC/NIA
By OUR REPORTER
The National Integrity Alliance (NIA) a coalition of non-governmental organisations has asked key state agencies tasked with responsibilities of clearing aspirants to contest in the coming August 9 General Election, not to clear candidates with questionable integrity.
The NGOs released what they termed as the REDCARD 2022 list of aspirants who should not vie in the August 9, 2022 General Election. Those they have blacklisted includes; Aisha Jumwa – Malindi gubernatorial aspirant, Ali Korane – Garissa gubernatorial aspirant, Anne Waiguru – Kirinyaga gubernatorial aspirant, Babu Owino- Embakasi East MP aspirant, Cleophas Malala -– Kakamega gubernatorial aspirant.
Others are Daniel Manduku – Nyaribari Masaba MP aspirant, Didmus Barasa – Kimilili MP aspirant, Evans Kidero – Homa Bay gubernatorial aspirant, Fahim Twaha – Lamu gubernatorial aspirant, Godhana Dhadho Gaddae – Tana River gubernatorial aspirant, Johanna Ng’eno – Emurrua Dikir MP aspirant, John Walukhe – Sirisia MP aspirant, Joseph Samal – Isiolo North MP aspirant, Kembi Gitura- Muranga senatorial aspirant, Lilian Omollo – Embu senatorial aspirant.
The list also includes Mathew Lempurkel- Laikipia North MP aspirant, Mike Mbuvi Sonko – Mombasa gubernatorial aspirant, Mohamed Abdi Mohamud- Wajir gubernatorial aspirant, Muthomi Njuki – Tharaka Nithi gubernatorial aspirant, Oscar Sudi –Kapseret MP aspirant, Phillip Kaloki – Nairobi county deputy gubernatorial aspirant, Rigathi Gachagua – Deputy President nominee, Samson Cherargei – Nandi senatorial aspirant, Samuel Arama – Nakuru Town West MP aspirant, Sospeter Ojaamong’ – Teso South MP aspirant.
Organisations under the National Integrity Alliance (NIA) includes; Transparency International Kenya (TI-Kenya), Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi!, Mzalendo Trust, The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA), and The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC).
The civil society organisations that spearhead integrity and anti-corruption campaigns said they have been closely monitoring key developments in regard to the enforcement of Chapter 6 of the Constitution on leadership and integrity ahead of the August 9, 2022 General Election noted that various political formations have nominated candidates with questionable integrity.
“At stake in this year’s polls is the risk of electing to public office individuals who are in breach of the leadership and integrity tenets as enshrined in Chapter 6 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, those named adversely by statutory agencies or prosecuted for corruption, economic crimes and abuse of office or other criminal offences,” they said.
National Integrity Alliance (NIA) said the cost of electing such leaders is borne by citizens through broken promises to provide effective public services, like witnessed recently when the country experienced a surge in the cost of living due to rising food and fuel prices.
“Even worse, the country is losing a third of its budget annually to corruption and caving under a high level of public debt,” they added.
National Integrity Alliance (NIA) added that it launched the Red Card Campaign to stop people of questionable integrity from ascending to public office and transforming the seeds of corruption into trunks of impunity.
They said the move was a continuation of the Red Card Campaign 2017 – a citizens’ driven campaign to rally public support against corrupt and unethical leadership, raise awareness and compel electoral vetting institutions to implement Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya on Leadership and Integrity.
They said ahead of the 2007 General Election, Red Carded 20 individuals that should not have been cleared to participate in the general elections on grounds of integrity and corruption.
“Some of those red carded, who were unfortunately elected such as, Ferdinand Waititu – former Kiambu County Governor, Mike Sonko – former Nairobi County Governor, Zakaria Okoth Obado – Migori County Governor and Anne Waiguru -Kirinyaga County Governor, were eventually impeached and others are in court following new corruption and criminal charges, while some are subjects of ongoing criminal investigations,” they noted.
The NGOs said the outcomes have lent credence to their past efforts to block individuals unfit to hold public office adding that they have red carded 25 individuals ahead of the 2022 General Election after an objective and impartial investigation.
“We hold that they are not fit to serve in any appointive or elective public office. Some of these individuals in Red Card 2022 were also Red Carded in 2017,” they added.
The NGOs said their list was not exhaustive, given that many of those who have declared their interest to seek elective positions in the August 2022 general elections have either been adversely mentioned by investigative institutions, face prosecution or are already convicted.
“This is a continuous campaign, and we are still reviewing a number of reports and we will update and publicise the Red Card 2022 list. 3 How did we arrive at the list for Red Card 2022 The Red Card 2022 list has been generated from authentic and verifiable investigative reports,” they added.
They said their guiding criteria was generated from the national values as envisaged in Article 1 and Article 10 of the Constitution; the principles of leadership and integrity under Chapter Six of the Constitution; the principles of public finance in Article 201, values of public services in Article 232 and qualifications for election, moral and ethical requirements referred to under Articles 99 (1) (b) and 193(1)(b) of the Constitution.
Other subsidiary legislations include the Public Finance Management Act 2012, Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act 2011, the Leadership and Integrity Act 2012, the Elections Act 2011 and the Public Procurement and Disposal Act 2015; the NCIC Act and KNCHR Act.
“To disrupt the real and present danger to the Nation, we call on Kenyans to join us in a 70-day campaign, beginning today, to Red Card all corrupt and unethical political aspirants,” they added.
They revealed that beginning next week, they will launch an online petition on change.org; to ask the public to sign the petition which they will present together with the list of Red Carded individuals to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
