Two in bid to halt Bomachoge by-election until case is heard

The Bomachoge parliamentary by-election could be put on hold until a case is heard.

Mr Fedinard Ondabu Obure and Mr Richard Kalembe Ndile of the Tip party have asked the High Court in Nairobi to stop the by-election slated for August 27 until their case is determined.

They went to court to seek its intervention after Mr Obure’s nomination paper’s were declared invalid, hence stopping him from participating in the poll.

The papers were cancelled because they lacked specimen signatures for authorised officials of the political party sponsoring him.

But according to Mr Obure, the reason given was illegal and unfair because he was not allowed to defend himself. He also says the decision denies him his right to vie for a parliamentary seat as a citizen.

After hearing the case, Lady Justice Hannah Okwengu declined to grant any temporary order to stop the elections.

However, she certified the matter as urgent and told Mr Obure to file his substantive application in the next 15 days.

Ballot papers
If no court order is granted by then, the ballot papers will be printed without Mr Obure’s name.

In his suit papers Mr Obure argues that since he has complied with all the legal requirements, he should be allowed to participate in the poll.

Therefore, he says, the electoral body ought to be compelled to include him in the ballot papers.