Petition challenging Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya’s win dismissed

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya.

The Mombasa High Court has dismissed petition challenging the re-election of Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya.

Justice Mugure Thande said the sole reason for dismissal was that it did not meet the petition rules.

The petition was filed by Mwamlole Tchappu Mbwana,who averred that the August 8  election was not free and fair and asked the court to order a fresh poll.

The petitioner's lawyer Tom Ambwere had earlier told the court that the first respondent,IEBC, and the second respondents, the Kwale county elections manager and county returning officer Amina Hussein Soud, were  by raising unnecessary issues, trying to delay the petition which had already attracted public interest

IEBC'S lawyers led by William Mogaka and Peter Wanyama asked the court to throw out the petition in its maiden stages as it lacked merit.

Today's ruling determined whether the petition was registered at the High Court within 28 days after the declaration of results as required by law or whether Kwale deputy governor Fatuma Achani was to be enjoined in the case.

The judge also ordered Former Kwale gubernatorial aspirant Chirau Ali Mwakwere to cater for the cost of the petition amounting to Ksh 2.4 million.

Salim Mvurya was re-elected for a second term in office on a Jubilee party ticket after garnering 119,680 votes beating his closest rival Chirau Ali Makwere who garnered 29,741 votes.?