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Supreme Court upholds Kipchoim as Baringo South MP

“A win is a win, it doesn’t matter how close it was even if it was by one vote - I won!” she firmly said.

“A win is a win, it doesn’t matter how close it was even if it was by one vote – I won!” she firmly said.

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 22 – The Supreme Court has dismissed an election petition by Charles Kamurem challenging the election of Baringo South MP Grace Kipchoim.

The Supreme Court ruled that the case lacked merit and sufficient threshold to be heard forcing it to be dismissed.

Kipchoim hailed the verdict saying this would now allow her to concentrate on her responsibilities as the people’s representative.

“For the last two years, we have been battling in court, right from Eldoret where the court ruled in my favour and several appeals later we got here to the Supreme court, and today it was ruled again that there is no case to answer, ” said a happy Kipchoim.

Strapped in tinsel (celebratory regalia) around her neck and accompanied by her lawyer and constituents singing victory songs Kipchoim said although the margin between herself and the petitioner was close in the 2013 election, she had been validly elected.

“A win is a win, it doesn’t matter how close it was even if it was by one vote – I won!” she firmly said.

Her lawyer Robert Ondieki said they had put up a spirited fight to ensure the case was cleared further dismissing the petitioner’s accusations of electoral malpractices in his clients’ election.

“The threshold for leave to appeal at the Supreme Court had not been met, this means my client is now the incumbent sitting MP for Baringo South,” said Ondieki.

Kipchoim said she would now put her concerted efforts to ensure the security challenges in Baringo County are contained.

“Insecurity in Baringo has been rife for over 10 years – but I believe with the support of the people, who are anxious to have peace, we will be successful,” she stated.

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She called on her political detractors to shove aside their difference and work with her in securing the people of Baringo and its environs.

“If these opponents have the goodwill for the people, they will now come back, we work together and find ways and means of finding a solution to the security issues being faced by the residents,” she added.

She intimated that the leadership of the region has held several meetings including one they held last week with Deputy President William Ruto, the regional security team and county commissioners from Rift Valley and the legislators from the conflict stricken areas to come to an understanding over possible solutions to the spiraling conflict which has since claimed the lives of over 50 people.

“I believe strongly that peace is going to come to Baringo,” she added.

The petitioner in the case will now be required to pay for the cost of the litigation, an amount yet to be set.

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