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High Court in Nairobi has upheld the election of Kajiado Governor David Nkedianye saying there was no evidence to support fraud claims that were raised by a petitioner/MIKE KARIUKI

Kenya

Seven by-elections set for October 17

High Court in Nairobi has upheld the election of Kajiado Governor David Nkedianye saying there was no evidence to support fraud claims that were raised by a petitioner/MIKE KARIUKI

High Court in Nairobi has upheld the election of Kajiado Governor David Nkedianye saying there was no evidence to support fraud claims that were raised by a petitioner/MIKE KARIUKI

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 29 – The Independent, Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will hold seven by-elections on October 17 which include the Siaya gubernatorial, Kibwezi West and Matungulu constituency polls.

In a statement posted on the commission’s website on Thursday, IEBC revealed that it will also undertake mini-polls in Ilima (Kaiti constituency), Kahawa Sukari (Ruiru constituency), Mnagei (Kapenguria constituency) and Benane (Lagdera constituency) wards on the same date.

The commission further announced that interested political parties have up to September 2 to finalise their primaries and determine any disputes arising from the nominations.

“Siaya County is made up of six constituencies namely Ugenya, Ugunja, Alego Usonga, Gem, Bondo and Rarieda with a total of 311,919 registered voters,” said the IEBC.

The IEBC further directed candidates in the Siaya gubernatorial race as well as those in Kibwezi West constituency race to submit their nomination papers on September 19 and 20 respectively.

Candidates vying for the Matungulu seat and the four wards will on the other hand be required to submit their papers on September 16 and 17 respectively.

“The official campaign period (for Siaya County and Kibwezi West constituency) will run from September 21 to October 15, 2013,” said the IEBC.

“The official campaign period (for Matungulu and the four wards) will run from September 18 to October 15, 2013.”

Last Friday, the Kisumu High Court nullified the election of Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga after it emerged that the campaign period was not free and fair.

The petitioner William Oduol, who was also vying for the seat, had his posters defaced in some instances and was even forced to leave his rally after it was hijacked by alleged Rasanga’s supporters.

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On August 15, the Machakos High Court declared that Patrick Musimba was not validly elected for the Kibwezi West seat because the counting of the ballots was improper.

Again on July 30, the same court nullified the election of Matungulu Member of National Assembly Stephen Mule after it emerged that there were numerous anomalies.

“It was admitted that there were typographical errors that occurred where the third respondent garnered 120 votes that were wrongly entered as 126 in form 36,” noted Justice Lillian Matende.

Meanwhile, the High Court in Nairobi has upheld the election of Kajiado Governor David Nkedianye saying there was no evidence to support fraud claims that were raised by a petitioner.

High Court Judge Fred Mabeya said calls to nullify Nkedianye’s election because there were instances where some voters were denied a chance to vote were not valid as there was no proof to show that such incidents were prevalent.

“My view is that the irregularity was not of such a magnitude that this court can reach a finding that it was so material as to affect the outcome of the results,” he said.

He also dismissed claims that Nkedianye’s deputy Paul Ntiati should be sent home because he does not hold valid education credentials.

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