WANJIRU OUT

Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru has lost the recount of votes in the constituency by a margin of 14,000 votes.

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Judge: Starehe vote recount to go on
On the final day of the exercise Bishop Wanjiru amassed 34, 871 against her rival and election petitioner Maina Kamanda, who managed 49, 306 votes. A total of 204 ballot boxes were recounted.

The next step in the petition process will see the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) give evidence before Justice Kihara Kariuki, which will be followed by final submissions from both parties.

The Judge will then deliver his ruling.

Mr Kamanda said he believes that he lost the election through "falsification of Form 16A."

The former MP had tabled evidence that he claimed proved unathorised alterations and cancellations of election material.

After the recount, an ecstatic Kamanda indicated that he would be asking the court to declare him the duly elected MP of Starehe. In his prayers in court, Mr Kamanda asked the court to declare whoever emerges the winner after the recount as the elected MP.

According to him, there was no need of a by-election.

According to the law, a court has the power to declare a petitioner, who has prayed so, as the duly elected Member of Parliament after a recount.

The devastating blow to Bishop Wanjiru comes just hours after another MP lost his seat.

The court nullified the election of George Thuo as Juja MP for poll irregularities on Friday.