Kenya MP loses seat
Boni Khalwale. He lost the Ikolomani parliamentary seat following an election petition February 18, 2011. FILE
Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale has become the latest politician to lose his seat through an election petition.
A Kakamega court nullified his seat Friday over irregularities during the 2007 General Election.
Justice Isaac Lenaola ruled against the new Ford Kenya MP saying his election was not free and fair.
The petition had been filed by Bernard Shinali, one of the contestants in the 2007 election.
He becomes the tenth MP to lose his seat in an indictment of the last polls.
Other MPs who have fallen by the wayside include: Omingo Magara (South Mugirango), Joel Onyancha (Bomachoge), John Ngata Kariuki (Kirinyaga Central), George Thuo (Juja), Dick Wathika (Makadara), Abdirahman Hassan (Wajir South), Ali Chirau Mwakwere (Matuga), Margaret Wanjiru (Starehe) and Simon Mbugua (Kamukunji).
Of these, only Mr Mwakwere and Bishop Wanjiru won the subsequent by-elections in their constituencies.
The Kamukunji repeat poll is pending.
In the latest by-election on Wednesday, PNU's Joseph Gitari was elected the new MP for Kirinyaga Central after seeing off the challenge of Narc Kenya's Daniel Karaba in a tightly contested poll.
Mr Gitari polled 18, 520 against former MP Karaba who garnered 16, 681.
