Court upholds election of Starehe MP Amos Mwago

Judge Muya in his verdict says there was no proper identification of those giving bribes

In Summary
  • The judge said he was satisfied that the election was conducted in accordance with and principles of law.
  • Mwago who ran on the Jubilee Party ticket beat his rival Simon Mbugua of UDA after garnering 50,777 votes.
Starehe MP Amos Mwago in Parliament
Starehe MP Amos Mwago in Parliament
Image: HANDOUT

The High Court has upheld the victory of Starehe MP Amos Mwago in the August 9 general election.

Justice Martin Muya said that even though there were some errors and procedural irregularities, they were not of a magnitude that affected the election results.

The judge said he was satisfied that the election was conducted in accordance with and principles of law.

Three petitioners Stanley Kyalo, Peter Waihenya and Samuel Nduhiu challenged Mwago's election citing violence, bribery and discrepancies that compromised the whole process and affected the final results.

The petitioners contested that there was rampant voter bribery in polling stations at the Starehe on voting day.

But Judge Muya issuing his verdict said there was no proper identification of those giving bribes.

"No photos taken or produced in court to substantiate the same. Bribes were said to be in form of money but It was not clearly established what the currency was," he ruled.

Turning to allegations of violence, the judge said it was not made clear the nature of the violence and who it was against.

The judge said the alleged violence could not have affected in any way the results of the elections.

The court said the announcement of final results by the returning officer in the absence of results from 5 polling stations being submitted could not have affected the final tally.

He said the 3,362  registered voters in the 5 stations would not affect the final tally.

Mwago who ran on the Jubilee Party ticket beat his rival Simon Mbugua of UDA after garnering 50,777 votes.

Mbugua, a former East African Legislative Assembly lawmaker got 36,548 votes.

WATCH: The latest videos from the Star