In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has upheld the nullification of Magarini MP Harrison Garama Kombe’s election, solidifying a precedent-setting decision that reverberates through Kenya’s political landscape.
A five-judge bench of the apex court affirmed the findings of the Court of Appeal, validating petitioner Stanley Kenga Karisa’s claims of electoral irregularities.
Stanley Kenga Karisa, a former Kilifi County Assembly Speaker, contested the seat under President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, locked in a nail-biting electoral battle with ODM’s Kombe.
Despite a slender margin of 21 votes, with Kenga securing 11,925 votes compared to Kombe’s 11,946, the outcome was clouded by violations of constitutional and legal provisions.
The nullification of Kombe’s election was initially pronounced by High Court Judge Alfred Mabeya, who cited substantial irregularities that undermined the integrity of the electoral process.
This decision was subsequently endorsed by the Court of Appeal, a testament to the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the sanctity of democratic principles.
Kombe’s legal recourse led to an appeal before the Supreme Court, yet the apex court upheld the earlier rulings, cementing the nullification of his election.