Relief for Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro after court upholds his poll victory

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro can now breathe a sigh of relief after the High Court in Malindi dismissed a petition challenging his win at the 2022 polls.

Lady Justice Anne Adwera Onginjo also slapped the petitioners with the cost of the suit that was set at Ksh.6 million.

In her judgement delivered virtually, Justice Onginjo ruled that the petitioners failed to prove that the election was marred with malpractices including voter bribery, intimidation and ballot stuffing.

Three youthful Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) supporters; Justine Chinga Chirume, Justin Charo Baya, and 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, whereby the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as well as Kilifi Returning Officer Hussein Gurre, who are the first and second respondents, will receive Ksh.3 million, while Mr Mung’aro and Mrs Chibule will also get a similar amount from the petitioners.

In the 2022 polls, Mr. Mung’aro of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party garnered 142,773 votes against Aisha Jumwa of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) who got 65,693 votes.

City lawyer George Kithi, vying on a PAA party ticket, came third with 64,326 votes. Mr Kithi would later become the lawyer of the petitioners after he was struck out as an interested party in the suit.