61 MPs, 20 governors, 7 senators face petitions

By David Ohito

Nairobi; Kenya: At least 56 members of the National Assembly, 7 senators and  20 governors will not sit pretty in their offices owing to petitions filed in  courts challenging their election.

Another  five women representatives will battle for their seats in Court  over the next six months as judiciary settles election disputes arising from the March 4 General Election.

The numbers are expected to rise as Judiciary is expected to revise the fresh figures Friday April 12 as it battles to capture all cases on its electronic register.

The break down issued by Naim Bilal Yaseen, the director of Public Affairs and Communication said : “the total number of petitions filed in courts all over the country, excluding the Presidential Election Petitions, stands at 145.”

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The petitions add to three cases which were filed in the Supreme Court where Raila Odinga challenged the election of his rival Uhuru Kenyatta.

The Supreme Court upheld Uhuru’s election as valid and paved way for inauguration last Tuesday, taking the reigns of power from Mwai Kibaki who has proceeded to retirement after 10- years at the helm.

The distribution of petitions filed against the various elective posts showed 20 Governors, 7 Senators , 56  members of the National Assembly,  5 Women Representatives , a whooping 56 County Assembly Representatives ands three Speakers of County Assemblies  will have to frequent corridors of justice as the cases proceed.

Among those facing legal battles is Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero whose election is being challenged by former Embakasi MP Ferdinand Waititu.

Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua similarly faces a petition filed by Wavinya Ndeti.

The Chief Justice Dr willy Mutunga cancelled leace for all judicial officers between March and October 2013 to allow the offices hear and determine cases within six months as stipulated in the law.

Magistrates courts will hear and determine cases filed at the County level while High Courts will arbitrate the petitions challenging election  of  Members of the National Assembly and Governors.