In a thread on Twitter, Independent aspirant Reuben Kigame protests discrimination by Kenya’s electoral body IEBC. On may 30th July 2022, the commission cited not having signatures and ID copies of supporters as reason to disqualify the celebrated musician from running for Presidency in Kenya’s General Elections slated for 9th August 2022. Here is a timeline of events from gazettement of aspirations to rejection as candidate, recreated from Kigame’s Twitter thread and news reports.
Reuben Kigame gazetted as presidential aspirant
Special Gazette notice dated 13th May 2022.
Kigame unveils running mate
Irene Ngendo Kamau Kamau from Githunguri is named by Kigame as his running mate in the 2022 General Elections.
Pre-nomination meeting with IEBC led by Chebukati
Chebukati and team give Kigame two (2) days to submit signatures and ID copies of supporters. By law, the commission requires 2000 signatures from 24 counties (a total of 48000) to clear presidential candidates.
Reuben Kigame submits signatures to IEBC
The presidential campaign of Reuben Kigame submits both the hardcopies and softcopies (in excel). However, the commission faults the format of submission, and Kigame is given until the 29th of May 2022 to correct and resubmit.
Disqualified by email
Detailing his experience when he sought clearance from IEBC after making the requested changes, Kigame recalls: “I take corrected copies back to IEBC (@IEBCKenya) and they refuse to take them or see me. At 10 PM same day as I am waiting to see Chebukati for the same, he emails me saying I have not complied with nomination requirements.”
Rueben Kigame’s ‘I’m here to Defy’ Speech transcript
Early on this day, security bars Kigame from seeing Chebukati at Bomas. Later, Kigame’s campaign is denied audience at Anniversary Towers the headquarters of IEBC. Speaking to the media in protest, Reuben Kigame is unbowed and delivers a stirring and thought provoking speech: ‘I’m here to defy‘.
Reuben Kigame protests discrimination, has his lawyers write to IEBC
‘My lawyers write to IEBC giving them 24 hours to respond. They respond four (4) days later inviting me to a meeting. I attended meeting yesterday, the fifth (5th) of June 2022. At the meeting, I raised discrimination complaint. At the meeting and in a short letter summarizing the same, Chebukati reiterates the fact that I failed to comply and refuses to take my signatures and ID copies a second time. While aspirants have been disqualified for not having signatures and ID copies, I have them but I am still deemed non-compliant. Chebukati has given other aspirants multiple opportunities to present their signatures and even top up where there is shortage.’
Kigame, “Read this thread as a whole and tell me, friends, why am I being barred from contesting in the August elections? Why would this country treat me like this? Somebody tell me why.”
