Supreme Court reinstates Mary Wambui as Othaya MP
Ms Mary Wambui (centre) has Monday retained her seat as Othaya MP after the Supreme Court set aside a decision of the Court of Appeal that had earlier nullified her election. PHOTO/FILE.
What you need to know:
- All the seven judges of the Supreme Court unanimously agreed that an earlier decision by the Court of Appeal to nullify her election was null and void.
- The judges restored the declaration by the Independent Electoral Commission of Kenya on March 4, 2013 which gave Ms Wambui the victory for the Othaya parliamentary seat.
- The initial petition at the High Court was dismissed but Mr King’ara appealed the decision at the Court of Appeal
Mary Wambui has retained her seat as the Othaya MP after the Supreme Court set aside a decision of the Court of Appeal that had earlier nullified her election.
All the seven judges of the Supreme Court unanimously agreed that the petition challenging Ms Wambui’s election was marred by technicalities and should not have been entertained by the High Court in the first instance as it was filed out of time.
“In the circumstances, Ms Wambui’s contentions are allowed and the Court of Appeal’s decision which nullified her election is declared null and void,” said Chief Justice Willy Mutunga on behalf of the bench.
The judges restored the declaration by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on March 4, 2013 which gave Ms Wambui the victory for the Othaya parliamentary seat.
Ms Wambui’s election was challenged by Peter Gichuki King'ara who claimed that the election was marred by irregularities and electoral malpractices.
The initial petition at the High Court was dismissed but Mr King’ara appealed the decision at the Court of Appeal.
Judges Alnashir Visram, Martha Koome and Otieno Odek of he Court of Appeal gave him a second chance to square it out with Ms Wambui at the ballot by declaring that the elections were not free and fair.
Ms Wambui then moved to the Supreme Court in a bid to retain her seat claiming that the Appellate Court exceeded its powers in nullifying her victory.
