Court delivers ruling on Mohammed Ali’s election

The Court of Appeal has validated the election of Nyali Member of Parliament (MP) Mohammed Ali.

The court on Thursday dismissed the petition filed by Said Abdallah alias Saido for lack of merit.

"The appellant having failed to prove allegations of electoral malpractices, the court finds that the appeal is lacking in merit and dismiss it forthwith," Justice Martha Koome ruled.

Justice Koome ruled that the August poll was conducted according to dictates of the Constitution.

An elated Ali welcomed the court's verdict saying justice was served. He called on his rivals to stop politicking and make Mombasa County better.

"Mengi yamezungumiziwa lakini ile tunafaa kujua ni kwamba hakuna wakili bora kuliko Mungu. Ningependa kuwajuza ndungu zangu ambaoa wamenipeleka mahakamani mara mbili ya kwamba ni wakati wa kukuja pamoja tufanye kazi,” he said.

Elsewhere the Appellate Court dismissed a petition appeal against election of Nyamira Governor John Nyangarama, indicating it lacked merit.

In Bungoma County, the Court of Appeal nullified the election of Kabuchai MP James Mukwe’s. Judges ordered the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conduct a repeat poll.

It was a reprieve for Kisii Governor James Ongwae as Court of Appeal judges ruled he was validly elected.

Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi also survived a poll petition as the court ruled irregularities did not affect election results.