By GEOFFREY MOSOKU

KENYA: Two MPs from Kisii County lost their seats on the last day of election petition hearings.

Chris Bichange, (ODM) of Nyaribari Chache and Joel Onyancha (TNA) of Bomachoge Borabu had their election to the National Assembly nullified by the High Court in Kisii Monday due to irregularities.

In total, five MPs, one Senator and two Governors were casualties of the petitions arising from the March 4 General Election.

In Nyaribari Chache, where ODM’s Bichange lost his seat, CORD partner parties will clash because the petitioner, Richard Tong’i, is from Wiper party. Cord partner parties have struck a deal to support a joint candidate in Matungulu and Kibwezi West constituencies and in the Siaya County gubernatorial race.

Onyancha became the first Jubilee MP to lose his parliamentary seat after the March 4 elections, and enters history books for having his election nullified twice in a row. In 2007, he won the seat on a Ford People ticket, but his victory was cut short by the High Court and he lost in the subsequent by-election to ODM’s Simon Ogari.

More than 90 judges and magistrates across the country handled the petitions, which had to be concluded within six months of being filed, pursuant to Section 75 of the Elections Act.

For the first time, a petitioner was granted a certificate to join the National Assembly after dislodging the incumbent in line with new electoral laws.

The Kisii High court nullified the election of Zebedeo Opore as Bonchari MP and declared the petitioner – Oroo Oyioka – the validly elected MP.

A total of 187 petitions had been lodged in the courts.

The only case pending followed an appeal at the High Court. The case had earlier been struck out by a Makadara court on technical grounds but was reinstated by the High Court.

“The courts have delivered judgments in 126 cases and are set to deliver all other pending judgments by October 7, “said the Judiciary in a statement.

It added: “The courts have finalised hearing of all petitions relating to the election of governors, senators, and members of the National Assembly, county women’s representatives and county assembly speakers.”

Petitioners withdrew 17 cases while courts struck out 31 others on technical grounds. There were 24 petitions challenging the election of governors; 13 against senators; 70 against members of the National Assembly; nine against county women’s representatives and 67 against county assembly members.

Already, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has requested Treasury for Sh340 million to conduct seven by-elections next week.

The by-elections due next Thursday are in Siaya County, Matungulu and Kibwezi West constituencies, and four county assembly wards.