Court Affirms Mung’aro’s Victory
By Mwakwaya Raymond
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Reprieve for Governor Gideon Mung’aro as Malindi High Court dismisses election petition challenging his victory on Thursday.
In her virtually delivered ruling, Lady Justice Ann Adwera Onginjo struck out the petition for lack of evidence against the governor, his deputy, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and its Kilifi returning officer.
The petitioners – Justine Chirume, Baya and Tsui – named the foursome as first to fourth respondents through claims of massive irregularities during the August 9th general election.
Some of the irregularities cited were voter bribery, voter intimidation and ballot stuffing during the gubernatorial election held in 2022.
At the close of pleadings, the petitioners pleaded to the court to nullify Mung’aro’s win and order fresh election.
However, the petitioners suffered double blow when the judge ordered them to pay Sh6 million to the respondents and also forfeit Sh500,000 fee they paid while filing their case.
According to court ruling IEBC and its returning officer will receive Sh3 million while Mung’aro and his deputy will share the remaining Sh3 million.
The judge also directed that the Sh500,000 deposited by petitioners be shared equally between the foursome respondents.
The ruling saw residents of the county hit the streets of Kilifi township in celebration saying the governor had won the election fair and square.
Brandishing placards and escorted by beating drums, the governor’s supporters brought the town to a standstill before camping at his office singing and dancing praise songs to his name.
The governor thanked his legal team, his supporters and people of Kilifi for standing with him during the entire duration of the court proceedings.
“I’m overwhelmed by your open support for me. I must thank you. I must thank my lawyers to ensure our win stays. Your unwavering support has been the engine of this success,” he said.
In his view, the whole petition just boiled down to politics after winning squarely on August 9th last year.
“That day the people of Kilifi spoke in big numbers through their votes but still some people found it necessary to challenge my win. Anyway, that’s their democratic rights but today (Thursday) the court has spoken.”
His deputy Flora Mbetsa Chibule termed the court’s ruling as ‘act of God’ and a sigh of relief to the people of Kilifi.
“God has been with us and this victory is not only for us but also for the entire county. We should now turn our concentration on service delivery to the great people of Kilifi,” she added.
