CJ Koome Assigns Mbeere North Election Petition to Embu High Court

Chief Justice Martha Koome has assigned the Mbeere North election petition to the High Court in Embu, appointing Justice Richard Mwongo to preside over the case.

The petition, listed as Election Petition No. E1 of 2025, was filed by Julieta Karigi Kithumbu. The respondents are Patrick Gitonga Gichoni, Leonard Wamuthende, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), and the Returning Officer for Mbeere North Constituency. 

The case challenges the validity of the election of the area’s Member of the National Assembly, a matter that falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court. By law, such disputes must be resolved within six months, underscoring the need for an expedited process.

At the centre of the petition is the candidacy of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) politician Leo Wa Muthende Njeru. The petitioners argue that the election result is unlawful due to inconsistencies in the candidate’s identity. 

They state that although Njeru executed a deed poll in September 2024 to change his name from Leonard Muriuki Njeru to Leo Wa Muthende Njeru, the voter register still listed him under his former name. They contend that this discrepancy undermines his eligibility to contest, as the Constitution requires parliamentary candidates to be duly registered voters.

The petition further claims that, despite the deed poll, nomination documents were submitted under the old name, adding to the alleged irregularities. Filed on 1 December 2025 and marked as urgent, the petition seeks the nullification of the result and the conduct of a fresh election.

With Justice Mwongo now designated to hear the matter, the court will move to pre-trial sessions and subsequent hearings.