Governor Yatani, rival fined Sh4m after Jubilee rally chaos

The scene at the Jubilee rally in Marsabit on July 26, 2017 which turned chaotic last week. Following the chaos, IEBC has fined Governor Ukur Yatani Sh3 million and also fined his competitor Mohamud Ali Sh1 million. PHOTO | IRENE MWENDWA| NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Governor Ukur Yatani was ordered to pay Sh3 million.
  • His competitor Mohamud Ali is to pay Sh1 million.
  • They were supposed to pay their fines in 24 hours failure to which they could be disqualified from the race.

Two Marsabit County gubernatorial candidates whose campaigns had been suspended by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) have been fined following chaos experienced in the county last week.

Governor Ukur Yatani was ordered to pay Sh3 million while his competitor Mohamud Ali is to pay Sh1 million.

Their supporters confronted each other before and after a Jubilee Party rally in Marsabit Town last week on Wednesday.

More than eight people were injured with four of them suffering gunshots wounds.

Mr Yatani and Mr Ali were then summoned by the IEBC and their campaigns suspended following the chaos.

However, the suspension was lifted on Wednesday when they were fined.

24 HOURS

According to the IEBC report, the two were supposed to pay their fines in 24 hours failure to which they could be disqualified from the race.

Following the campaign chaos, the two met met with County Commissioner Magu Mutindika on Thursday last week and called for peace.

Both urged their supporters not to engage in violence and instead maintain peace.

They said they would not condone any violence and neither would they support anyone found guilty of the crime.

However, Governor Yatani said he was discontented with the IEBC committee's judgement.

"It's very unfortunate that we had to be fined that much even if we were the victims. I will appeal the case on Thursday," said Mr Yatani.

MANDERA

At the same time Mandera Governor Ali Roba has been fined Sh1 million for similar violence in his county.

Also fined was Mr Roba’s Economic Freedom Party challenger Hassan Noor, who was ordered to pay Sh3 million.

IEBC had summoned the four for what it said was bearing responsibility for chaos that broke out in the two counties.

The chaos in Marsabit happened on July 26 and those in Mandera occurred on July 22.

The two parties, EFP and Mr Yatani’s Frontier Alliance Party have both endorsed President Kenyatta and have demanded equal rights with those of Jubilee candidates when the Head of State visited the region.

At the same time, IEBC has dismissed a case by Kitui Governor candidate Charity Ngilu for failing to show up for the hearings.

Additional reporting by Patrick Lang'at