Supreme Court Throws Out NASA from Petitions Challenging President Uhuru's Victory

National Super Alliance (NASA) will not be party to the petition challenging President Uhuru's October 26th victory after the Supreme Court struck out the participation of the coalition.

Delivering its rulings on preliminary issues raised during the pre-trial conference on Tuesday, the Supreme Court upheld an objection by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s legal team on the inclusion of the NASA coalition to the case.

“NASA cannot be sustained as a respondent in this matter,” Justice Jackton Ojwang said while reading a unanimous decision.

The opposition outfit had been named as a respondent in the petition filed by members of civil society - Njonjo Mue and Khelef Khalifa - who are seeking for the nullification of the October 26th vote. The second petition was lodged by former Kilome Member of Parliament Harun Mwau, who also wants the judges to invalidate the poll.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), its chairman Wafula Chebukati and President Uhuru are respondents in the two petitions, while presidential candidate Ekuru Aukot and Attorney General Githu Muigai were enjoined as interested party and amicus curiae respectively.

The actual hearings of the petition started on Wednesday morning with six judges including Chief Justice David Maraga, Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu and justices Njoki Ndung'u, Smokin Wanjala, Isaac Lenaola and Jackton Ojwang being part of the bench.