Supreme Court Judge Isaac Lenaola explains why it’s hard to recount presidential votes
Supreme Court Judge Isaac Lenaola explains why it’s hard to recount presidential votes in a case challenging election results.
While appearing in the press last month, Lenaola cast doubt on the Supreme Court’s ability to handle a recount in the ongoing suit filed by Azimio leader, Raila Odinga.
Judge Isaac Lenaola of the Supreme Court said that the seven-judge panel’s 14-day time frame was insufficient for them to thoroughly examine the election results.
He stated that the Supreme Court only has seven days to review petitions filed by political parties who believe they have been unfairly treated and that this constrains the amount of time that may be required to order a recount.
“Give us sufficient time to determine these petitions. 14 days is ridiculous. These parties file in seven days, we hear in seven days and deliver judgment on the 14th day.
“Now, we cannot do scrutiny and we cannot do a recount if we wanted to. We are the first and the last Court of call. So are we doing injustice to the public? The framers of the Constitution gave us 14 days and it is not enough,” Lenaola explained.
Supreme Court Judge Isaac Lenaola also said the manpower at the bench, the team of seven was not enough for the exercise.
For instance, he pointed out that if one Judge wasn’t available, the quorum to hear the presidential petition would be affected.
“When they were engaging the Judiciary during the BBI process, one of the things we said is, increase the number of Judges because seven is just not doable.
“For instance at one point, the Chief Justice and Justice Ibrahim Mohamed were engaged in interviews and one Judge was out of the country on official duties. We were four and we did not have the quorum. If we were to ask those who should do this, increase the number of Judges,” Lenaola stated at the time.
In a suit presented before the bench on Monday, August 22, Azimio presidential contender, Raila Odinga, wants to be declared president-elect should the Apex court order a recount and find him to be the winner.
Also read,
21 Key prayers in Raila Odinga’s petition at the Supreme Court
Raila-Karua affidavits at Supreme Court detail how IEBC bungled the election way before voting day
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