Reprieve for MP Samuel Arama as petitioner withdraws case

Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama on Wednesday got a reprieve after his competitor in the 2017 General Election withdrew a petition against his win.

Dr Andrew Isoe Ochoki, who vied on an ODM ticket, had filed an appeal against a verdict issued by the High Court in Nakuru that upheld the victory of Mr Arama.

On Wednesday three Court of Appeal judges William Ouko, Fatuma Sichale and Sankale Ole Kantai marked the appeal as withdrawn after Mr Ochoki through his lawyers filed and served the parties in the case with a notice.

VERDICT

During her February 22 verdict, Justice Mumbi Ngugi said the petitioner did not provide sufficient evidence to prove the irregularities during the election.

The court further directed that the petitioner pays the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Jubilee Party MP Sh2.5 million each as costs.

Mr Ochoki appealed the verdict and wanted the court to annul the outcome of the election held on August 8, 2017.

He had sued the IEBC and the Returning Officer for Nakuru Town West Constituency over what he termed as running a fraudulent election.

Through his lawyers led by Dr Mutaha Kangu, Dr Ochoki argued that the irregularities in the substantially affected the outcome of the results which he said made the exercise a sham.

In the said election, Mr Arama was declared the winner after garnering 29,775 votes ahead of Dr Ochoki’s who got 25,350 votes.