Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata now says the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) did not reject his candidature for the county governor’s seat.

Kang’ata said the electoral body neither refused to clear him nor his running mate, Dr Winfred Mwangi.

“IEBC did not reject our papers or refuse to clear us. We did not present our papers. We sought time to study an objection letter filed by a consortium of aspirants through their lawyer,” he wrote on his Twitter.

The senator further said he was not going to court to challenge the objection letter.

“We are not filing any suit. Once we study the letter, we shall present our papers,” he added.

Kang’ata denied clearance

Media reports had earlier indicated that Kang’ata was denied clearance by IEBC after it established that his running mate failed to resign within the legal timelines.

All public servants seeking elective posts are required to resign six months before the general elections, which was set for February 9, 2022.

Section 43 (5) of the Elections Act provides that “a public officer who intends to contest an election under this Act shall resign from public office at least six months before the date of election”.

Mwangi had been working as a lecturer at the University of Nairobi for over 25 years before she was picked to be Kang’ata’s running mate.