Appeals Court Upholds Election of Babu Owino as Embakasi East MP

The Court of Appeal has overturned High Court’s ruling nullifying the election of Babu Owino as Embakasi East Member of Parliament.

Owino’s August 8th, 2017 victory was annulled by High Court Justice Joseph Sergon in March citing massive electoral malpractices. Sergon further said the court was convinced that the Constituency’s Returning Officer was under pressure from Babu to declare him the winner.

However, in his ruling on Friday, Appeals Court Justice Mohammed Warsame dismissed claims that the Returning Officer was under pressure to announce Owino as the winner.

“We can’t understand how Babu Owino intimidated the RO and how pressure affected the results,” ruled Justice Warsame.

“Babu Owino was validly elected,” he said.

Owino filed a notice of appeal on March 7th, noting he was dissatisfied with the ruling of Justice Sergon as he erred in law in invalidating the election without sufficient evidence.

The petitioner, Francis Mureithi of Jubilee Party, Returning Officer Nicholas Buttuk and Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) were listed as first, second and third respondents in the appeal.

Speaking outside the Court, a visibly elated Owino said he’s now ready to serve  residents of Embakasi East, adding that he is ready to work with his opponent Mureithi.

“I would tell my opponents to wake up and move on. I also invite them to come and help me serve the people of Embakasi.”

“There is a time to lead and a time to be led…my opponents should respect those in power now so that when their time comes they can be respected too.”