In Dr Mutua’s case, High Court judge Aggrey Muchelule dismissed Ms Wavinya Ndeti’s petition but the appellate court overturned the decision, faulting the returning officer for using the wrong form.
Big win for @DrAlfredMutua as Supreme Court overturns Court of Appeal ruling declaring that he was not validly elected as Machakos Governor in 2017 poll. pic.twitter.com/1lMMDcasXi
— Hot 96 FM Kenya (@Hot_96Kenya) December 21, 2018
Justices William Ouko, Mohamed Warsame and Gatembu Kairu said Dr Mutua’s election was as the results were illegal and could not be verified. Mutua was declared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as the winner of the Machakos governor election.
Bad News: The Supreme Court of Kenya has today reinstated Dr Alfred Mutua as the Governor of Machakos County and asked Wavinya Ndeti to pay all costs of the case…
— Japheth Mwaniki (@Gerfedh) December 21, 2018
In the election, Mutua garnered 249,603 out of the 461,706 valid votes cast, while Wavinya managed 209,149. The difference between the two candidates was therefore well over 40,000 votes. Wavinya challenged Mutua’s election on grounds that IEBC’s use of county employees as election officers.
SUPREME COURT upholds decision to nullify Ugenya Constituency elections, orders IEBC to conduct fresh polls. pic.twitter.com/vFOBRx1OD1
— Kenya News Alert (@KenyaBreaknNews) December 21, 2018
Wavinya also accused Mutua’s political party of using county officers as its agents while County officers are public officers and it is an election offence for a public officer to engage in the activities of any political party or candidate. It is also an election offence for a public officer to act as an agent of a political party.
Blow to Governor hopeful Wavinya Ndeti after Supreme Court over-rules Court of Appeal and affirms election of Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua. Ms Ndeti to pay costs of the case pic.twitter.com/cJMTWoclCo
— Consumers Federation of Kenya (@CofekRebranded) December 21, 2018