Ndiritu Muriithi sails through as court validates Laikipia poll win

The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Ndiritu Muriithi as Laikipia Governor.

In their ruling read by Justice Smokin Wanjala, the apex court said that the question of Ndiritu vying as an independent candidate only came up at the High Court petition and was only known to the petitioner.

The court further noted that the petitioner knew all along that the governor would be vying as an independent candidate and still failed to use the appropriate mechanism to challenge.

On July 2018, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal challenging his election saying that the appeal lacked merit as reason for its dismissal.

Theis came after Sammy Ndung’u Waity challenged a High Court ruling that upheld Muriithi’s election as Laikipia Governor.

Through his lawyer Ramadan Abubakar, Waity raised issues of credibility in the poll and alleged that some voters were unable to exercise their democratic right.

The issue of cost of the case also arose with the defence maintaining that the Ksh.12million fine slapped on the appellant was reasonable despite being challenged.

On December 2017, the High Court in Nanyuki dismissed the petition challenging his election saying it lacked merit.

The petitioner had claimed that voting in the said area of Laikipia North constituency had not taken place, alleging that the Pokot community did not participate in the electoral process as they were involved in a security exercise that was being conducted in the area.

Lady Justice Mary Kasango, in delivering her judgement said the application had held back the conclusion of the petition, saying it did not contribute to the judicial process.

“I find the filing of this motion unmerited and it is therefore dismissed,” ruled Justice Kasango.