Political analyst Ambrose Weda now says the disapproval of Kibra MP hopeful McDonald Mariga was a big blow to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Tuesday invalidated the soccer star's bid since his name was reportedly not found in the voters' register..
According to Weda, Mariga's invalidation is a blow to President Kenyatta, the Jubilee party leader, as he now appears as a man leading a party not aware of the requirements its candidate requires.
Speaking on Wednesday, he said the same embarrassment goes to Jubilee party Secretary General Raphael Tuju and other party officials for not digging into the background of Mariga.
"This is an embarrassment to the party, the Secretary General, the president and all the others. It shows that they don't know the basics," he said during an interview at KBC English Service's the Big Conversation show.
But on the other hand, he noted that the seat remains for the dominant Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party's to lose.
According to Weda, even if he is allowed to run, Mariga will have it hard going past ODM's Imran Okoth.
"I think ODM will take it," he added.
ODM is seeking to retain the seat left by the late Ken Okoth, also an ODM member, and will have to face off with Mariga and ANC's Eliud Owalo among others.