Top legal minds and who they represent in the presidential petition

Lawyer Tom Ojienda during the Pre-trial conference on presidential election petition at the Supreme Court, Nairobi. [File, Standard]

The pre-trial conference of the presidential election petition kicked off on Tuesday at the Supreme Court in Nairobi.

The case has brought together the country's top legal minds, each representing individual parties in the matter.

The main petitioners, Raila Odinga and Martha Karua, are represented by Senior Counsel James Orengo, assisted by Senior Counsel Phillip Murgor, Paul Mwangi as well as lawyers Jackson Owele and Velma Maumo.

Former Attorney General Githu Muigai is the legal representative of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati.

Lawyers Eric Gumbo and Kamau Karori are appearing for the commission (IEBC).

Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia and Senior Lawyers Prof Kithure Kindiki and Kioko Kilukumi are represesnting president-elect William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua.

Senior Counsel Prof. Tom Ojienda will be appearing for the newly-elected Busia Senator Okiya Omutatah, who is the sixth petitioner in the case.

Senior Counsel Paul Muite and Issa Mansur will be pleading on behalf of the four dissenting IEBC Commissioners who are in support of the petition.

The four commissioners are IEBC Vice-chair Juliana Cherera, Justus Nyang'aya, Francis Wanderi and Irene Masit.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) which has been allowed to be enjoined as the amicus curiae will be represented by its president Eric Theuri as well as Steven Mwenesi.

International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) which also applied to be a friend of the court will be represented by lawyers Ochiel Daddley and Ann Ngige.

Other lawyers in the 2022 presidential election petition are Senior Counsel Charles Kanjama, John Walubengo, Joseph Sevila, Martin Mirero, Willis Otieno, Nelson Osiemo, Paul Nyamodi, Tom Macharia and Njoki Mboche.