A Mombasa Court  has on Wednesday directed Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC) to clear Mike Sonko to contest in the Mombasa gubernatorial elections. 

In a unanimous ruling by a  three-judge bench of Olga Sewe, Ann Ong'injo', and Stephen Githinji states that  the former  Nairobi governor had submitted all the required documents to the IEBC for clearance within the stipulated time. 

"As a result, the petition is allowed and prayers granted, and the third respondent (IEBC) is directed to accept nomination papers presented by the petitioner (Sonko),” read the ruling.

While releasing a gazette notice of candidates who will vie for various positions in the August 9 General Election Sonko’s name was amiss on the list due to the fact that he had a pending case before the court in Mombasa, and the IEBC disputes tribunal had not yet cleared him to vie.

According to the tribunal, Sonko failed to submit his original degree certificate as well as a certified copy of the same, in breach of article 75 of the Kenyan constitution.

The tribunal also heard that although Sonko had presented copies that had been certified by his advocate during the last poll, the degree requirement in 2022 applied to all candidates.

The IEBC had also barred Sonko from vying following his impeachment in 2018.