4 activists file second petition against Ruto’s win at Supreme Court

Four activists have filed a petition at the Supreme Court to challenge the declaration of William Ruto as President-elect by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati.

The activists; Khelef Khalifa, George Osewe, Ruth Mumbi, and Grace Kamau, claim that the just concluded presidential election was badly conducted, administered and managed by IEBC.

The four petitioners claim that the electoral commission failed to comply with election principles and regulations during the polls.

According to the petitioners, IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati erred in excluding the other commissioners.

“There is no independent, stand-alone provision of the constitution that gives the IEBC chairperson any substantive power to do anything that appertains to any election whatsoever.”

“The general duty and power to tally, verify and declare results has already been vested with the commission in Article 86 and 138(3)(c) of the constitution.”

The four want the court to order IEBC chairman to avail all the materials including the electronic documents, devices and equipment for the presidential election within 48 hours of filling the petition.

They also want a declaration that Ruto was not validly declared as the president-elect and that the same is invalid null and void.

“A declaration that IEBC chairman committed election irregularities and illegalities in the presidential elections and malpractices and a report to that effect to be sent to the DPP, ” reads the petition in part.

They have listed IEBC, Chebukati, and William Ruto as respondents.

They have also enjoined Attorney General Paul Kihara as an interested party.