The election petition challenging the election of Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro has been thrown out by the Malindi High Court.
Lady Justice Anne Adwera Onginjo ruled that the petitioners failed to prove that the election was marred with malpractices including voter bribery, intimidation and ballot staffing as claimed.
She also slapped the petitioners with the costs of the suit that was set at Sh. 6 million.
Three youthful Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) supporters, Mr Justine Chinga Chirume, Mr Justin Charo Baya and Mr Salim Chai Tsui had moved to court to challenge the election of Mung’aro and his deputy Florah Chimbule.
The costs of the suit will be shared equally where the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Kilifi Returning Officer (RO) Mr Hussein Gurre who are the first and second respondent will get Sh. 3 million while Mr Mung’aro and Mrs Chibule will get Sh. 3 million from the petitioners.
In the concluded elections, Mr Mung’aro (ODM) garnered 142,773 votes against Mrs Aisha Jumwa of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) who got 65,693 votes while City lawyer George Kithi vying of the PAA ticket came third with 64,326 votes.
Mr Kithi would later become lawyer of the petitioners after he was struck out as an interested party in the suit.
