This archive report was first published on 20 September 2019.
On 8th August 2017, the people of Mandera North Constituency went to the polls to elect their governor. However, the election was marred by controversy, and now, the Economic Freedom Party (EFP) candidate, Hassan Noor Hassan, is challenging the victory of Jubilee Party's Ali Ibrahim Roba in court.
Published on 20th September 2019, Mr. Noor, a former Devolution ministry administrator, claims that the elections were characterized by massive electoral malpractices and irregularities, particularly in Ashabito Ward, Guticha Ward, Morothile Ward, parts of Rhamu Ward, and Rhamu-Dimtu Ward, which led to him being 'rigged out' in favor of Roba.
He further alleges that the petition raises several discrepancies in figures entered in Form 34A and 34B, and wants the court to order the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to preserve and keep all the Kenya Integrated Electoral Systems Kits (KIEMS) used for all the polling stations and tallying centers within Mandera North Constituency.
Mr. Noor also wants all the ballot papers used during the elections kept well, and for the IEBC to provide read-only access to information relating to the number of servers limited for Mandera North Constituency, among other items.
He claims that presiding officers were deliberately delayed from reporting to their polling stations the day before elections to enable their replacement with strangers, and that EFP agents were assaulted and chased away from various polling stations in the presence of police officers.
According to the petition filed at the Milimani Law Court, Governor Ali Roba of Jubilee Party retained his seat after garnering 67,470 votes against Noor's 57,937. Mr. Noor claims that the electronic voting system was tampered with to give his rival an undeserved victory.
