This archive report was first published on 15 September 2019.
October 5th, 2017 - In a major breakthrough, former Justice Minister Martha Karua has secured a significant win in her petition challenging the election of Anne Waiguru as governor of Kirinyaga county. Karua, the leader of NARC Kenya, had filed an application requesting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to provide her with all the forms 37A and 37B for Kirinyaga County.
On Wednesday, October 4, Judge Lucy Gitari delivered a ruling directing the IEBC to present all the documents on Thursday to allow the commencement of the petition. Karua's lawyer, Gitobu Imanyara, had expressed concerns during the hearing that their preparation of the case was being sabotaged by the lack of essential documents requested from IEBC.
Karua, who unsuccessfully ran for the presidency in 2013, is challenging Waiguru's election on a Jubilee ticket. Karua's previous presidential bid saw her garner 43,881 votes countrywide, coming in at a distant sixth position. She conceded defeat at the time, stating that she respected the outcome and would work with the then president-elect, Uhuru Kenyatta.
It is worth noting that Karua played a crucial role in President Mwai Kibaki's 2007 re-election campaign. During the disputed election, Kibaki was sworn in in the middle of the night, and Karua, as the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, was his key defender.
Later, Karua was appointed to head the government's team in negotiations with the opposition following the political stalemate that ensued. Successful negotiations led to a power-sharing deal that formed the coalition government between opposition leader Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki.
Martha Karua remains a prominent figure in Kenya's political landscape, and this new legal battle for the Kirinyaga governorship will be an interesting development to watch.
