Wednesday, June 19, 2013

IEBC accepts anomalies in the Lurambi petition


Written by John Kabaka
2013-06-19 13:08:00
Read 94 Times
Bookmark and Share


The petitioner Anthony Luyundi (right) and Lurambi MP Raphael Otaalo (Centre) after hearing the petition in the Kakamega court. [PHOTO|John Kabaka|West Fm]
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has agreed that there were some anomalies in the past general election in Lurambi constituency.
In a petition filed at the Kakamega court by Antony Luyundi, Lurambi constituency returning officer Gideon Balang said that he learned late that the name of the petitioner was missing on the ballot papers.
“I knew very late that Luyundi’s name was not on the ballot and there was nothing that I could have done by that time,” said Balang.
He however noted that his photograph and symbol appeared on the ballot.
“Even if there was a problem with the name of the petitioner on the ballot, his photo and party symbol were very clear on the ballot papers,” Balang told the court.
When asked about what steps he could have taken, the returning officer said that he could have cancelled the election if only he could have known the problem early enough.
“I realized that the cancelation of the election would have caused lots of trouble and just decided that the election goes on,” he said.
“Even though the process went on smoothly with no one complaining about the missing of the name,” he added.
Antony Luyundi who came 6th in an election that had 7 contesters has filed a petition in the Kakamega courts requesting the court to nullify the election.
“Injustice of the highest order was done to us, my name was not on the ballot and that confused my supporters in a big way, I therefore pray that the court gives them another chance to make their informed decision,” said Luyundi.
Addressing the media after the hearing Lurambi Mp Raphael Otaalo requested the court to throw the case saying that the people of Lurambi had no time for a by election.
“This will be a waste of time to my people who have already forgotten about any election, I therefore request the court to rule wisely,” said Otaalo.
He however said that he will request for his campaign costs and five year payment as an MP for Lurambi if the court rules otherwise.
“If the ruling favours the petitioner, then I will request that am refunded my campaign costs and arrangements for the salary that I could have got as a member of parliament are made,” remarked Otaalo.
In another petition featuring the election of Khwisero MP Benjamin Andola, the court was told that some of the ballot boxes were seriously tampered with.
Through his counsel, the petitioner Benjamin Andama also said that some of the form 35 and 36 were nowhere to be found.


Read more: http://westfm.co.ke/index-page-news-bid-9043.htm#.UcGMjjcKXC8.twitter#ixzz2WesjK35X
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives

No comments:

Post a Comment