Justice Majanja sent the witness to the cells after he refused to apologise for referring to Soweto as ‘my dear’/FILE
KISUMU, Kenya, Nov 8 – The hearing of the election petition challenging the election of Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o resumed Wednesday morning with the petitioner’s side lining up more witnesses.
A total of five prosecution witnesses testified in support of the petition during the morning session with a majority of them painting a picture of an alleged bias by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission staff toward agents of the petitioner Jack Ranguma.
George Ouko Oyoo from Masogo Nyangoma ward in Muhoroni who was an agent claimed that IEBC colluded with ODM agents to bribe voters in favour of Nyong’o.
However there was drama when the Presiding Judge Justice David Majanja ordered Yusuf Odongo Masudi, a witness, be detained in the courtroom cells.
This is after he refused to apologise to the third respondent’s lawyer Julie Soweto for referring to her as “my dear” during cross examination.
Justice Majanja warned other witnesses to avoid using sexist language in the courtroom.
He was led to the court cells by prison warders where he stayed for close to two hours before he was reinstated to the dock.
Masudi was compelled by the Judge to apologise to the lawyer which he did and was pardoned.
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