Martha Karua Drags War Against Governor Anne Waiguru's Victory to the Appellate Court

Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua wants the Appellate Court to reverse the Kerugoya High court decision that dismissed her petition challenging Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru's August 8th victory.

The former Gichugu MP has filed a notice of appeal against the judgment by the lower court.

Ms Karua and her running mate in the August 8th election, Joseph Gitari are seeking to have the judgment delivered by Lady Justice Lucy Gitari overturned.

The notice lodged through lawyer Gitobu Imanyara indicates that the two are dissatisfied with the whole judgment. Karua and Gitari list Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Kirinyaga County Returning Officer Seki Lempaka, Governor Waiguru and Deputy Governor Peter Ndambiri as respondents in the appeal notice.

Speaking outside Kerugoya High Court on Wednesday following delivery of the judgment, the former Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister declared that her bid to have Governor Anne Waiguru's win cancelled was not over.

Karua argues that the August 8th election was not free and fair as it was marred by cases of voter bribery and that her agents were were ejected from polling stations. She also claims that some 48,000 votes were illegally added to the advantage of Ms Waiguru's final tally.

Waiguru, a former Devolution Cabinet Secretary, was declared the winner of the seat after garnering 161,373 votes against Karua's 122,091 votes.

While striking out Karua's petition, the court ruled that she failed to adhere to Election (Parliamentary and County) Petition Rules 2017 issued and gazetted by the Chief Justice David Maraga. Justice Gitari termed the petition as "defective and incurable” for omission of vital information and ordered Karua to pay Sh10 million as the cost of the petition.