Number of Kenya's March 4 pending poll petitions down to 7

By STANDARD REPORTER

Only seven petitions are pending in courts out of 188 cases filed after the March 4 General Election.

The Judiciary has finalised hearing 181 election petitions arising from the elections.

Courts handling election cases are now left with only the seven petitions to hear and determine.

The cases pending conclusion include one against the election of a Senator, four against the election of Members of National Assembly and two against the election of Women Representatives.

The cases are required to be concluded within six months of being filed, pursuant to Section 75 of the Elections Act.

90 judges

The courts have cleared hearing of all petitions filed to challenge the election of Speakers of County Assemblies, Governors and County Assembly Representatives, said Judiciary Director, Public Affairs and Communication Naim Bilal in a statement.

Statistics released by the Judiciary Working Committee on Election Preparations indicate that election courts have delivered judgments in 86 petition cases, while judgments in 47 others, which have already been heard, will be delivered soon.

Petitioners withdrew 17 election cases while the 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 Representatives; 67 against County Assembly Representatives and five against County Assembly Speakers, making a total of 188 election petitions.

More than 90 judges and magistrates across the country are involved in handling election petitions.

Tomorrow, two Bungoma County MPs serving their second terms in Parliament will know their fates.

A Bungoma High Court Judge, Justice Francis Gikonyo, who has been listening to the election petition cases against MPs Alfred Sambu (Webuye East) and Dr Eseli Simiyu ( Tongaren) will give a ruling on whether the duo were validly elected.

Sambu’s win was challenged by Moses Lukoye,a voter and human rights activist. 

The petitioner wants the lawmaker’s win to be invalidated claiming he belonged to two parties at election time.

Mr John Chikati, who is challenging Eseli’s election, cites cases of unsigned forms 35 and 36 to announce the results declaring the MP the winner.