Court dismisses petition against Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa

The petition against Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa was dismissed on Tuesday by the Bungoma High Court citing insufficient evidence to back the case.

Judge Anthony Murima said the petitioner, former MP Suleiman Murunga, did not present enough evidence to enable him quash Mr Barasa’s win in last year’s General Election.

Mr Barasa defied the opposition wave in the Bungoma county to win the seat as a Jubilee Party candidate. 

In his judgement, the judge said there was no sufficient evidence to quash the election of Mr Barasa.

“There was no enough evidence to support all the 14 grounds pressed by the petitioner. I therefore dismiss this case with costs,” he said.

The court slapped the petitioner with a Sh6 million cost of the petition, half for Mr Barasa and the other for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Mr Murunga of Ford Kenya, who was seeking re-election, lost to the MP in a tight contest.

The petitioner had raised grounds on bribery, intimidation of his agents, stuffing of extra ballot papers and collusion with IEBC officials.

Mr Barasa, a first time lawmaker, welcomed the court’s decision saying he was now fully on course to bring development in the constituency. 

“I thank God that my election has been upheld, it has showed that courts are independent,” he said.

It was dance and celebration on Tuesday in Bungoma and Kimilili towns following Mr Barasa’s victory.