Supreme Court Stops Mathare By-Election

The court in its ruling said that the case raises serious constitutional issues.

The by-election was scheduled to take place on the 3rd June 2014

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officially received the nullification certificate of the election of Wanjohi as the Mathare Member of National Assembly on March 26th.

A ruling by a three-judge Court of Appeal ordered that fresh elections be held in the constituency as required by law following a petition by one of the contestants, Stephen Kariuki.

The judges also directed that Kariuki’s cost be paid by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission in both the Court of Appeal and the High Court which amounted to Sh1.5 million.

The three judge bench comprising Justice Jamila Mohammed, Justice Gatembu Kairu and Justice D.K Maraga in their ruling said that the varying tallies that were released by IEBC’s returning officer could not identify the winner of the election.

By Beth Nyaga