Governor Waiguru says Karua petition time-barred

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru during an interview at her residence in Kitusuru, Nairobi on Thursday 24/08/17. She narrated her intentions and plans for Kirinyaga County.[Boniface Okendo,Standard]

Governor Anne Waiguru has told the High Court in Kirinyaga to dismiss an application filed by her nemesis Narc Kenya Leader Martha Karua, which seeks to overturn her election as Kirinyaga governor.

Ms Waiguru told the court that the six-month timeline for hearing of election petitions had elapsed and Justice Lucy Gitari had no more jurisdiction on the matter.

Through her lawyers, Waiguru said in the unlikely event Justice Gitari does not disqualify herself from hearing the petition afresh it should be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction due to expired time frame.

“You were appointed and gazetted to hear and determine an election petition filed by Narc-Kenya Leader Martha Karua and given strict constitutional and legal time frame within which to hear and determine the case of which the required six months elapsed on March 4,” submitted Paul Nyamodi.

Ms Karua insisted Gitari should have had no other business other than recusing herself on the grounds of having shown outright bias.

Through her lawyer Gitobu Imanyara, Karua told the court upon witnessing the bias Gitari had towards her when she dismissed her petition on a technicality, she went to seek for redress at the Court of Appeal, which ordered the case be heard afresh.

“We are ready for commencement of my petition afresh but not under your jurisdiction since we cannot expect justice as sought under the circumstances,” Imanyara said.