Wanjiru son loses win after ‘error’

The electoral commission on Friday nullified a certificate it wrongly issued to a Mathare parliamentary candidate. Mr George Wanjohi (TNA) was declared the winner by the electoral commission, but the certificate was issued to his closest contender Steven Kariuki (ODM).

The error prompted Mr Wanjohi to file a petition at the High Court seeking nullification of the certificate. He informed the court that the commission had duly announced him as the winner, but issued the certificate to Mr Kariuki.

The commission admitted that it wrongly issued the winner’s certificate to Mr Kariuki-Bishop Margaret Wanjiru’s son-and nullified it. IEBC lawyer, Mr Paul Nyamodi, told the court that it was the mistake of the returning officer and promised that the commission would correct the anomaly.

 “The returning officer might have issued the certificate to the wrong winner due to the close difference of the votes cast. However, the commission has realised the mistake and is going to cancel the certificate and issue a new one to the winner,” Mr Nyamodi said.

Mr Wanjohi’s lawyer on Friday 8th March in the afternoon informed the court of the nullification and withdrew the petition. However, Mr Kariuki said the IEBC had no legal backing to take a certificate it had given him. He added that the claim by the commission that it would issue a new certificate to Mr Wanjohi was rigging since the mandate of electing an MP lay Mathare residents.

Courtesy: Daily Nation Kenya