Martin Wambora’s Nine Lives are Over as High Court Nullifies His Win

Martin Wambora’s win as the Governor of Embu County has been nullified.

The court, through Justice William Musyoka, cited that the process to Wambora’s win on August 8^th during the General elections was marred with irregularities which undermined the electoral process.

Justice William Musyoka ordered the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conduct a fresh election in accordance with law.

Justice William Musyoka ordered the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Embu County Returning Officer Daniel Lenarum and Wambora and to pay the petitioner, former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti Ksh.3 million.

This comes after the court ordered a recount, scrutiny, and examination of the votes on January 18, 2018, to verify the authenticity of the results declared by the IEBC after the August 8 general elections.

Mr. Kivuti had moved to court on August 25, 2017, to challenge Mr. Wambora’s win in the August 8 poll citing massive irregularities and illegalities which included errors in the counting process.

Kivuti, who got 96,775 votes against Wambora’s 97,760, filed a petition after the August 8, 2017, election insisting the poll was not free and fair.

Before the case challenging his win could kick off, Wambora filed an urgent application seeking to strike out the petition by Kivuti. Wambora claimed ballot papers had been tampered with and could not be relied upon in the hearing and determination of the petition.

Kivuti had earlier applied to have the ballot papers and KIEMS data secured to prevent interference.

The court had ordered that all the election materials be put in safe custody and further directed all the parties to put their seals on the ballot boxes to prevent tampering.

During his first term as Governor, the county assembly of Meru unsuccessfully tried to impeach Wambora for the loss of public funds in the procurement of maize seeds and refurbishment of Embu Stadium hence is unfit to hold public office.

Mr. Wambora’s impeachment was invalidated by the High Court on the basis that then-Speaker Kariuki Mate and Assembly Clerk Jim Kauma had acted in contempt of court by allowing debate on the motion.

The decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal.