High Court orders IEBC to clear Chris Obure, three others

Kisii Jubilee governorship aspirant Chris Obure (left) and senate aspirant Charles Nyachae at Milimani Courts on May 25, 2017. The High Court has ordered IEBC to clear Mr Obure to contest. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • All the five will vie on the Jubilee Party.
  • Mr Obure was cleared alongside MPs Jimmy Angwenyi, John Opore and Simon Ongari.
  • Justice Kimaru said that Ms Shonko had no legal basis of filing a fresh petition with the tribunal.

Two High Court judges have directed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to clear Kisii Senator Chris Obure to vie for governorship.

The judges have also cleared businessman Simon Rotiken to vie for Narok North parliamentary seat.

Lady Justice Hedwig Ong’udi and Justice Luka Kimaru ordered IEBC to accept the nominations of Mr Obure, Mr Rotiken and three other parliamentary aspirants whose nominations had been challenged by losers.

All the five will vie on the Jubilee Party.

MPS CLEARED

Mr Obure was cleared alongside MPs Jimmy Angwenyi (Kitutu North), John Opore (Bonchari) and Simon Ongari (Bomachoge Chache).

Lawyer Omwanza Ombati for Mr Obure told the court that those who had lodged complaints against him have since opted to vie as independent candidates.

In the case of Mr Rotiken, Justice Kimaru noted that he defeated his opponent, Ms Agnes Shonko, by over 20,000 votes.

Ms Shonko, who has since gone independent, had garnered 350 votes during the repeat polls ordered by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal.

Justice Kimaru said that Ms Shonko, who had twice challenged Mr Rotiken’s victory, had no legal basis of filing a fresh petition with the tribunal.

He noted that during the repeat nominations she was defeated by Mr Rotiken.