Supreme Court: There was no need for fresh nominations in repeat poll

The Supreme Court on Monday said there was no need of conducting fresh nominations for the repeat October 26 election.

In its detailed judgement, the apex court further ruled that the nominations for the August 8 General Election remained valid for the October 26 presidential race.

“The law provides for withdrawal within three days of nominations. The said regulation is not applicable to the situation at hand. Nominations had long been conducted before the scheduled fresh election,” said the court.

The Supreme Court Justices also added that all the presidential candidates who participated in August 8 were supposed to be included in the fresh presidential elections, and found no fault with including Cyrus Jirongo on the ballot.

Returning officers and the Deputy Returning officers were also found to have legally discharged their duties, therefore allegations that they lacked the authority to manage the fresh presidential elections were dismissed.

“We now hold that the officers in question lawfully held their positions and duly discharged their constitutional mandate,” the court said.

Allegations that the Supreme Court judges were intimidated by President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was a party in the election petition were also dismissed.

“While being alive to the fact that the 3rd respondent has on various occasions expressed his dissatisfaction with the (September 1) judgement delivered by this court, no judge of this court was intimidated by the choice of words by the 3rd respondent.”

The court also dismissed allegations that there was voter bribery on grounds that there was no proof to support such claims.