While the IEBC verdict to clear embattled former football star Macdonald Mariga of any anomalies should have brought jubilation, it is clear now the former footballer is still haunted by the discrepancies surrounding his date of birth.
Former Kakamega Senator, Boni Khalwale, remarked immediately after the ruling that the questions around Mariga’s date of birth are neither here nor there, therefore admitting awareness of the controversy.
Speaking to the press, Khalwale said the most important question in Mariga’s age should be whether he is above the age of 18- which he clearly meets.
Langata MP Nixon Korir also stated that detractors of Mariga were hell-bent to create roadblocks along the way of the former football star.
Since he joined politics weeks ago, Mariga seems to be jumping from one hurdle to another.
Hell broke loose when a letter showing Mariga as one of the Jubilee Party primaries contestants leaked, with the party’s Secretary-General Raphael Tuju dismissing the letter as a forgery. It later emerged the letter was genuine.
One stark example is the fact that Mariga’s ID number- 29801496, does not tally with the registration period for a person his age; 32 years.
Death Threats
Reports indicate that a news reporter was almost stabbed after he persisted with a story to reveal the ‘real age’ of the football star who was then plying his trade abroad.
Another journalist would later receive heart-wrenching death threats after he picked up the story to uncover Mariga’s real age.
While Mariga’s father has in the past given conflicting dates of birth as his son’s, even football websites are torn on the former star’s exact age.
For instance, footballtop.com sets Mariga’s age at 35 while soccerbase.com maintains he is 32.
His father Nicholas Wanyama, in an earlier interview, said Mariga was born in 1981.
Mr.Mariga will be included in the list of candidates running for the Kibra by election
— IEBC (@IEBCKenya) September 16, 2019
He added that Mariga would be going to seek the IEBC clearance certificate before starting the campaigns as early as possible.
Jubilee Party’s Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen said the party will accord Mariga all the support he needs to clinch the Kibra seat.
The seat fell vacant after the incumbent Ken Okoth (ODM) succumbed following a long battle with colorectal cancer.