Eleven petitioners move to court to block Ruto- Rigathi swearing-in if elected
Eleven petitioners move to the high court to block Ruto- Rigathi swearing in if elected in Tuesday’s general elections.
In an effort to prevent UDA presidential candidate William Ruto and his running mate Rigathi Gachagua from taking the oath of office, eleven petitioners have petitioned the High Court asking for conservatory orders.
The petitioners are asking the court to issue hearing and decision instructions by Friday, August 26, 2022, in a case involving the pre-election nomination dispute certified under a certificate of urgency in respect of candidates for president and vice president.
Ruto-Gachagua are identified as the first and second respondents, respectively, by the eleven petitioners.
“That pending hearing and determination of this Petition, the honourable Court be pleased to issue an order conservatory injunction to restrain the first and second respondents from being sworn into offices of President and Deputy President respectively in the event that they get elected during the General Election scheduled for August 9, 2022,” the petition reads in part.
The petitioners are basing their arguments on Chapter six of the Constitution of Kenya.
“The Petition herein seeks to safeguard and enforce the principles, values, and objectives of the constitution including chapter six thereof and its application to the eligibility of candidates for President and Deputy President,” reads the petition.
According to the petitioners, given the provisions of Chapter Six of the Constitution, swearing in of the Respondents to office will constitute a flagrant violation of Articles 3, 4, and 10 of the Constitution.
“Unless the court hears and determines the constitutionality of the registration and gazettement of the 1st and 2nd Respondents as candidates, it amounts to aiding and abetting illegalities if they are sworn into their respective offices in the event they get elected,” reads part of the petition.
This development comes even as Gachagua battles another case at the Anti-Corruption court.
Last month, the Anti-Corruption Court ordered the legislator who is incumbent Mathira Member of Parliament to forfeit Sh202 million for being proceeds of corruption.
In the July 28, 2022 ruling, Justice Esther Maina said the lawmaker could not prove how he raised the money.
Gachagua has since appealed that decision and dismissed the petitions arguing that the recent court ruling was a political witch hunt.
Also read,
Secret documents reveal how UK Govt orchestrated a smear campaign against Raila’s father Jaramogi
Raila always topped in his class, Oburu Oginga reveals
Baba Na Mama Youth forum in Central commits to facilitate sick and elderly to vote for Raila Odinga
Follow us
