Judge James Makau at the Milimani High Court during the judgement of a case whether Uhuru Kenyatta should be forced to swear ion judges appointed by the judiciary. [George Njunge, Standard]

The High Court has stopped a by-election in Kiagu ward, Meru County, and ordered the election agency to clear a Chama Cha Kazi candidate in the subsequent poll.

On August 30, Salesio Thuranira, coordinator for UDA in South Imenti Constituency, filed an objection with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Milton Mwenda, the Chama Cha Kazi candidate for the by-election .

The petitioner claimed that Mwenda was an employee of the Meru County Assembly and subsequently, the IEBC, in its ruling, barred the candidate from participating in the by-election.

Dissatisfied, Chama Cha Kazi and Mwenda went to court and filed an application to have the IEBC ruling revoked.

High Court judge James Makau then ordered IEBC to conduct Kiagu by-election afresh and include Mwenda as a candidate.

Mwenda wanted the court to give conservatory orders staying the implementation of the IEBC decision invalidating his nomination.

The petition also wanted the court to restrain IEBC from printing ballot papers for the by-election that had been scheduled for October 14, 2021.