Voters in Magarini constituency are set to return to the ballot after a Malindi court nullified the election victory of Harrison Garama Kombe as the area Member of Parliament.
In a judgment delivered virtually, Justice Alfred Mabeya cited massive irregularities including ballot stuffing and exchange of votes during the August 9, 2022 poll as the reasons for the nullification.
Former Kilifi County Assembly Deputy Speaker Stanley Karisa Kenga, who had petitioned the poll outcome, thanked the court for confirming that his complaint was genuine as he was sure he had won the election.
Speaking to journalists outside the Malindi law court, Mr. Kenga, who was flanked by some of his supporters, expressed confidence that he would clinch the seat during the impending by-election
Mr. Kenga, who contested on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket, polled 11,925 votes against Kombe’s 11,946, a difference of 21 votes. The race attracted seven candidates.
UDA leaders Philip Mbaji and Daniel Chiriba called on Kenya Kwanza to sponsor only one candidate for the by-election to assure the coalition victory and recommended that Mr. Kenga be given that ticket.
Mbaji and Chiriba unsuccessfully contested the Rabai and Malindi Parliamentary seats on UDA tickets during the August 9, 2022 polls.
This is the second time Kombe has suffered a setback through the nullification of his election victory.
He won the seat on a Shirikisho Party of Kenya in 2002 but the victory was quashed in 2007 leading to a by-election, in which he won.
He was floored by Mr. Amason Jeffa Kingi (Current Senate Speaker) in the 2007 General Election but recaptured the same in 2013, but lost the seat to Kingi’s brother, Michael Thoya Kingi in 2017.
Contacted for comment following the court’s decision, Mr. Kombe said he would continue serving as Magarini MP but did not state whether he would appeal the verdict or wait to fight it out in the by-election.
By Emmanuel Masha and Sironic Waithera
