Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-03-12 15:24:21
Narok nominated Member of County Assembly (MCA) Alice Chepkirui faced a setback as the Nakuru Court of Appeal upheld a decision by the High Court to invalidate her nomination to the seat. The judgement came after a petition filed by Josephine Seneiyo Torome, who argued that Chepkirui, although nominated by the Jubilee party, was associated with ODM.
Torome’s lawyer contended that Chepkirui, a registered voter in Nakuru County, was vying for a seat in Narok County. The petitioner successfully challenged Chepkirui’s nomination in the gender top-up list, leading to a ruling by a chief magistrate at the High Court in Torome’s favor.
Alice Kering, the Jubilee nominated MCA, was sworn in at the Narok County Assembly in 2023. However, the court ruling invalidated her nomination, stating that she was not a member of the Jubilee party at the time of nomination and was also not a registered voter of the county. Kering was affiliated with the ODM party, which had nominated her to the Nakuru county assembly from 2017 to 2022.
Following the court’s decision, Chepkirui accepted the outcome and expressed gratitude to her lawyers for their efforts in the case. She acknowledged the challenging nature of the legal battle and the impact it had on Narok County. Meanwhile, Torome welcomed the court’s ruling in her favor, pledging to use her position to support and empower women in the community.
“My client Ms. Torome, being the next person in the gender top-up list from the Jubilee Party should be sworn in as the nominated MCA within the Jubilee party list that had been subjected to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission,” the lawyer emphasized.
In a statement after the ruling, Chepkirui remarked, “My lawyer has fought hard in this. He wasn’t just fighting for me but also for the whole of Narok County, which is not an easy thing.” Torome also expressed her commitment to empowering women and vulnerable children in her community, grateful for the opportunity to reclaim the seat.
The legal battle highlights the importance of adhering to the party nomination process and electoral regulations. The court’s decision serves as a reminder of the significance of upholding the integrity of the nomination process and ensuring that elected representatives meet the necessary criteria to hold public office. As the case unfolds, it underscores the complexities and challenges in the political landscape and the impact of legal disputes on governance and representation.
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