High Court To Rule On Mathare By Election

This was after Gor Semelang’o, an independent candidate, moved to court after being barred from the race by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

IEBC had barred Semelang’o on grounds that he had failed to prove that he had quit public office six months prior to the by-election.

Semelang’o however said in his petition said that his appointment as CEO of the Youth Enterprise Fund was revoked by the president on the 27th of February and his position taken by Bruce Odhiambo on the 1st of March  2014 during the time of the nominations.

Semelang’o filed an urgent application at the High Court last Tuesday seeking a delay of the by-election adding that the IEBC had illegally locked him out from vying for the Mathare parliamentary seat.

Semelang’o also added that his constitutional rights have been violated by being denied the opportunity to vie and that of his supporters as they have also been denied the chance to elect him.

The by-election has so far attracted 5 candidates, including TNA’s George Wanjohi, ODM’s Steven Kariuki, Fwamba  C. of Fwamba of Maendeleo Party, Billian Okoth of Labour Party and Muthoni Macharia an independent candidate.

The Mathare by-election was scheduled for August 7th 2014.

By Wangui Ngechu