City MP survives election petition by rival
The High Court on Tuesday upheld the election of Ruaraka MP Tom Joseph Kajwang’ and dismissed claims by former nominated Senator Elizabeth Ongoro that the poll was marred by violence and voter intimidation.
Justice Richard Mwongo dismissed more than eight claims made by Ms Ongoro, stating that she failed to prove any of the allegations.
He said the former senator did not demonstrate how all the claims she made affected the poll outcome.
The dismissal brings to 90 the number of cases that have so far been dispensed with by the courts.
The High Court has so far dismissed 11 petitions challenging the election of governors, while 28 MPs have survived the election petitions.
Only one election petition — that of Wajir’s Mohamed Abdi — has been nullified, but he has filed a notice of appeal.
During the August 8 poll, Mr Kajwang of ODM was declared winner after garnering 36,892 votes, while Ms Ongoro of Amani National Congress garnered 21,512 votes. Jubilee’s Dominic Kinyua came in third with 16,068 votes.
Ms Ongoro accused her rival of intimidation, violence and bribery of voters. She alleged that Mr Kajwang’ used “sexist tactics”.