Court Strikes Out Case Challenging Nairobi Governor Sonko's Victory

The High Court on Tuesday struck out a petition challenging the election of Mike Sonko as Nairobi Governor in the August 8th polls.

The ruling comes a day after the petitioners claimed they had received death threats and declined to appear in court for the hearing of the case on Monday.

One of the petitioners, Japheth Muroko, through his attorney Anthony Oluoch, told the court on Monday that he and his family were threatened on Saturday.

The lawyer requested Justice Msagha Mbogholi to postpone the case for one day, but the judge declined and only adjourned the case to noon, to enable Mr Muroko finish recording the statement with the police.

However, in the afternoon, the petitioners again failed to show up in court. On Tuesday, they made an application to withdraw the case, but the judge rejected it, opting to dismiss the petition.

In his petition, Muroko and his co-petitioner Zacheus Okoth wanted the court to nullify Sonko’s win citing irregularities and bribery among other allegations.

In his ruling, Justice Mbogholi dismissed the petition and directed the petitioners to pay the governor and IEBC Sh2.5 million each.

Justice Mbogholi said the petition was struck out for want of prosecution.