The Supreme Court of Kenya has upheld the election of Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, whose election was challenged by his rival.
Celebrations at Supreme Court after Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi’s 2017 election was validated. pic.twitter.com/i6GeMYiIW9
— Radio Citizen (@RadioCitizenFM) February 8, 2019
The ruling was delivered Friday morning at the Supreme Court in Nairobi by Justice Smokin Wanjala.Governor Ndiritu Muriithi has been lucky enough to win the petition right from the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.Sammy Ndung’u Waity challenged a High Court ruling that upheld Muriithi’s election as Laikipia Governor.
Through his lawyer Ramadan Abubakar, Waity raised issues of credibility in the election, alleging violation of the voters’ rights in voting.
The Court of Appeal on July 2018 had also dismissed the petition challenging the Governor’s election, saying the petitioner did not provide sufficient evidence to warrant a nullification.
Muriithi has emerged three times lucky and survived a protracted election petition scare.
But the judges said the appeal was just rehashing the case Mr Waity had lost at the Court of Appeal.
The court said in a decision read by Justice Smokin Wanjala that all pre-election disputes cannot be a matter for an election court if the electoral commission and the political parties dispute tribunal have handled it.
The Supreme Court has also upheld election of Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito and ruled that petition filed by Silverse Anami lacked merit.
Elections of Laikipia governor Ndiritu Muriithi and Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito upheld by the Supreme Court following petitions by Sammy Waity and Silverse Anami respectively. pic.twitter.com/KImp9biXG0
— David Mbewa (@MbewaDavid) February 8, 2019