I won poll fair and square, says Tobiko

By Lucianne Limo

Kajiado East MP Peris Tobiko has defended her seat saying she was validly elected.

Tobiko, who is fighting an election petition filed against her by her closest rival Kakuta Maimai, yesterday took to the witness stand and said she won the elections.

“I won the March 4 elections fair and square,” she told Justice George Kimondo at the Milimani Law courts. The legislator refuted claims made by the petitioner that she had due advantage during the polls since three of her relatives worked for the electoral body as well as her chief campaigners.

She asked the court to dismiss the petition with costs to allow her continue serving her constituents and Kenyans. She said figures in form 35 were not altered as claimed by Maimai.

Glaring alterations

Maimai has asked the court to nullify the election of Tobiko claiming the poll was not free and fair. He told the court that form 35 had glaring and significant alterations such that the figures were unclear as to who garnered what votes.

“I am unclear on the difference of votes Tobiko and I garnered but all I know is that the gap was insignificant,” he said.  He told Justice Kimondo that after all the alterations were made by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission officials on form 35, the election was not fair.

He further told the court that Tobiko had at least three relatives employed by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.