Garissa speaker sworn in, win challenged in court

Newly elected Garissa county assembly speaker Abdi Idle Gure’s win has been challenged in court.

After Gure was sworn in, contestant Ismail Arale went to court to challenge the victory.

Arale was among eight candidates who had been shortlisted. Others were Abdi Ali, Mohamed Abdullahi, Abdiweli Kassim, Muse Dahir, Ahmed Mohamed, Issa M Hussein and Mahat Osman Ibrahim.

However, assembly clerk Mohamed Santur said only five candidates who had completed and submitted their nomination papers qualified to run for the speaker's post.

They were Abdi Ali Abdullahi, Abdi Idle Gure, Ahmed Mohamed Ibrahim, Mahat Osman Ibrahim and Muse Dahir Dagane.

But Arale, who contested for the Balambala parliamentary seat but lost, said on Wednesday his rights were violated.

He was speaking to the press in Garissa town after filing the case to challenge the speaker's election in court under a certificate of urgency.

On Wednesday evening, Arale served the clerk with court papers to stop the swearing-in of Gure, but the speaker had already been sworn in a few hours earlier.

“I submitted all my documents and testimonials including the clearance letter from IEBC which have categorically stated that I am qualified and I have been cleared to contest for the said position. I submitted them to the office of the clerk,” he said.

“Unfortunately last evening I saw a list of shortlisted candidates and I could not see my name. I immediately went to the clerk’s office who told me that they removed me because my testimonials were not attached to my CV, something that is not true at all.”

He said he is going to court seeking to know why his name was struck off the list of competitors. He is also seeking the nullification of the swearing-in of the speaker.

Arale said the move to disqualify him was malicious, saying they saw him as a threat because he was among the front runners.

But the clerk distanced himself from the accusations, saying all he did was in accordance with the law and the Standing Orders. He told the Star on the phone that he is willing to defend himself in court.

“He is free to go to court. It is his constitutional right to seek redress from the court but I am ready to defend myself since I did not do anything wrong,” he said.

But speaking to journalists outside the assembly chambers after being sworn in, Gure said he was looking forward to a vibrant and meaningful discourse on the floor of the House.

Gure, who was flanked by among others, deputy speaker Musdaf Abdirashid, thanked the MCAs for their approval.

He said the fact that they overwhelmingly voted for him shows that they have trust in his leadership skills. He promised not to disappoint them.

Gure said he was looking forward to leading a house that will work harmoniously with the executive.

“There are a myriad of challenges that we face as a county that are unique to us. When you look at the human development index, we are far below what is the norm. Water, health, unemployment and literacy are all issues that face our county,” he said.

He said he is looking forward to a united, objective and determined House to achieve the mandate members have been entrusted with.

Edited by A.N