Sigh of relief for Nyong’o as petition against his election dismissed

The high Court in Kisumu on Wednesday 3^rd January dismissed a petition challenging the election of Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o.

In his ruling, High Court Judge David Majanja quashed the petition filed by former Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma saying there was no sufficient evidence to demonstrate claims of Ballot stuffing and use of booklets in the August 8, 2017 general election.

In his petition, Ranguma accused the electoral body, IEBC, of lack of impartiality, accountability, and transparency in managing the election and a flawed declaration on the part of the Returning officer.

Ranguma therefore sought the court to overturn Nyong’o victory on grounds that the August 8^th elections for Kisumu’s gubernatorial seat were not conducted within the confines of the Constitution as they were marred by massive malpractices and irregularities.

Judge Majanja however dismissed Ranguma’s petition terming some of the allegations as “vague and embarrassing” adding that such vagueness cannot be cured by stating in the petition that the evidence is detailed in the supporting affidavits.

“The significant and substantial numbers of instances cited in the petition were not proved. I have already dealt with the issue of voting, counting, tallying, collation and transmission of the results elsewhere and I find and hold that the petitioner has not proved that the election results were interfered with or manipulated in the manner suggested by the petitioner or in a manner that would lead me to invalidate the elections, ” read the ruling in part.

Governor Ranguma has since expressed his dissatisfaction with the ruling, saying he is contemplating filing an appeal.