MAKUENI, KENYA: Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo junior has been left off the hook after the High Court struck out a petition challenging his election.
Judge Justice David Majanja dismissed with costs the petition filled by two Makueni voters – Alphonse Mulandi Wolile and Muthini Mwenga who had challenged his election.
Justice Majanja delivered his ruling before an empty courtroom where only lawyers B.M. Musyoki for the petitioners, Gladys Gichuki for IEBC and Mutinda Kimeu who held brief for Kethi Kilonzo for her brother.
The Judge upheld that Mutula Junior was dully nominated in accordance to the High Court ruling that allowed the Wiper party to nominate another candidate after Kethi Kilonzo was locked out.
Justice Majanja awarded Mutula Junior Sh250, 000, Sh150,000 to the Returning Officer and the electoral body while the balance of Sh100,000.00 will be refunded to the petitioners.
Mutula junior welcomed the courts decision terming the ruling his best gift in the recent days.
Through their lawyer the petitioners had raised constitutional issues regarding the nomination and clearance of Mutula Junior as the Wiper candidate for the July 26 by election.
The petitioners cited the pasting of Mutula’s details on the ballot paper terming it a violation of the constitution adding the process was manipulated to favor him.
They argued Mutula junior’s details were conspicuously embossed to attract the attention of the voters, giving him an over due advantage.
“The ballot paper must be printed with equality so as not to disenfranchise or favor one candidate”, the petitioners had argued.-standardmedia
