A Student Organization of Maseno University (Somu) presidential contestant has been locked out of the elections after submitting his nomination papers a day late.
Ricky Thomas Nyakach failed to submit his nomination papers on time in order to be cleared to vie for the hotly contested SOmu presidential seat.
Nyakach, who is vying for the second time after failing in 2014 presented his papers on Wednesday, October 7 accompanied by his diehard supporters and several members of the Ramogi Students Association of Maseno University (Rasamu).
However the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of academics and students affairs who is also in charge of the elections declined to receive the papers on grounds that they were not delivered on time.
All the aspirants were required to submit their papers on October 6, between 8.00am and 5.00pm and it is still not known why Nyakach failed to beat the deadline.
Nyakach and his followers did not take it lightly after realising that the DVC was firm with her decision and vowed to file a case in court to contest the decision before the election date.
The DVC is however said to have summoned the dean of students and students’ election presiding officers for a boardroom meeting to deliberate on the issue.
Elections for various posts in the students organisation has been made more elaborate after a few changes were put in place in ad amendment of the Somu Constitution.
A contestant must have an average of a B, should have at least three semesters left in his academic calendar (only if he/she is in third year of study for four-year programs), must be nominated by at least two hundred members and should not have a fee balance of any amount among other requirements.
This has been cited as a probable reason that made Nyakach fail to submit his papers before the deadline.
Other candidates, Boniface Oduory and Mabonga Walter were cleared and will contest for the presidential position but it is still not known whether candidates in other posts such Secretary General, Finance Secretary, Directors and Congress Representatives have been cleared.
The election will be held on October 21 and 22.