Supreme Court commends IEBC, rules there were no irregularities and illegalities

IEBC lawyers at the Supreme Court. [Photo: Boniface Okendo| Standard]

The Supreme Court commended the electoral commission for a job well done despite the challenges encountered in the run up to October 26 repeat presidential election.

The judges were convinced that there were no illegalities and irregularities in the repeat presidential election as alleged by the petitioners.

The court ruled the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission convinced the court why they took some actions.

“The petitioners failed to show us evidence of their claims and instead resorted to collateral things instead of discharging the burden of prove. We find that the commission rebutted each and every allegation to prove there were no irregularities and illegalities,” ruled the judges.

The petitioners had built their case around illegalities and irregularities, which they said compromised the credibility of the whole electoral process. According to the petitioners, IEBC used undesignated returning officers and other poll officials not properly gazetted to conduct the elections.

They argued that in some constituencies and polling stations, returning officers did not show up and IEBC used people who were not gazetted. They added that the results prepared by the officials were illegal.

In addition, the petitioners had accused IEBC of relocating polling centres in some constituencies on the voting day, thereby causing some voters not to exercise their rights.

But the judges ruled that the discrepancies alleged were not sufficient grounds to nullify the poll.