Joseph Kimaiyo Towett v Independent Electoral And Boundaries Commission & Returning Officer Molo Sub-County [2017] KEHC 3482 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA

AT NAIROBI

CONSTITUTIONAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION

PETITION NO. 302 OF 2017

IN THE MATTER OF ARTICLES 22(1), 23(1), 27, 83, 84,  85, 87, 88,

AND 193(1)(c)(ii) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA, 2010

AND

IN THE MATTER OF ALLEGED CONTRAVENTION OF FUNDAMENTAL

RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS UNDER ARTICLES 27, 35, 47 AND 50AND

ALSO83, 84, 85, 87, 88, 193(1)(c)(ii) OF THE CONSTITUTION

AND

IN THE MATTER OF THE NOMINATION OF AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE

TOCONTESTTHESEAT OF MEMBER OF MEMBER OF NAKURU

COUNTYASSEMBLY FOR THE MARIASHSHONI WARD

AND

IN THE MATTER OF THE ELECTIONS (GENERAL) REGULATIONS, 2012

BETWEEN

JOSEPH KIMAIYO TOWETT.......................................................PETITIONER/APPLICANT

AND

INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL AND BOUNDARIES COMMISSION.....1ST RESPONDENT

RETURNING OFFICER MOLO SUB-COUNTY.......................................2ND RESPONDENT

RULING

[1]  The Petitioner/Applicant filed his Petition dated 19 June 2017 along with the Notice of Motion of even date, challenging the decision of the Respondents,which had the effect of barring him from vying in the forthcoming August 8, 2017 General Elections. The Notice of Motion was filed by the Petitioner pursuant to Rule 23 of the Legal Notice No. 117 of 2013 for the following orders:

[a]  Spent

[b]  Spent

[c] That the court be pleased to stay the Respondent's decision to bar the Applicant from contesting as an Independent Candidate for the seat of Member of County Assembly for Mariashoni Ward in the August 8, 2017 General Elections;

[d]   That the Court be pleased to set aside the 1st Respondent's decision of 9 June 2017 upholding the decision of the 2nd          Respondent, who rejected the Petitioner's nomination papers on 30   June 2017;

[e]  That the Court be pleased to order that the Respondents do accept the Petitioner's nomination papers forthwith;

[f]  That the Court be pleased to order the Respondents to include the Applicant's name in the List of Candidates to contest the Mariashoni Ward Seat of Member of Nakuru County Assembly until further orders of the Court;

[g]  That the costs of the application be provided for.

[2]    The application was premised on the grounds that the Respondents acted arbitrarily, capriciously and unconstitutionally on 30 June 2017 and 9 June 2017 when they barred the Applicant from contesting in the August 8 General Elections, on the ground that there was a discrepancy in his name, which discrepancy was violative of Rule 39 of the Elections (General) Regulations, 2012, in that in the Voters' Register, the first name is his surname Towett, whilst in the nomination letter, his first name is Joseph. The Applicant's contention is that the two decisions are arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable, unconstitutional, illegal, null and void; and that the Respondents have wholly misunderstood their functions under Article 88(4) of the Constitution to conduct elections in democratic Kenya; and that in the premises, the Court has the power, under Article 23 of the Constitution to grant the conservatory orders prayed herein.

[3]  The Applicant relied on his Petition and the affidavit filed in support thereof, including the documents annexed thereto and although the application is unopposed, the Court takes judicial notice that the List of Candidates has already been published by the 1st Respondent, and that the printing of ballot papers is ongoing. I would accordingly fully endorse the sentiments of Majanja, J in Francis Gitau Parsimei & 2 Others vs. The National Alliance Party & 4 Others, Petition No. 356 and 359 of 2012that:

"...it must be clear that political rights are exercised through a political process involving many actors; the citizens and institutions. This is the process provided for under the provisions of Chapter Seven of the Constitution titled,  "Representation of the People." These provisions are operationalized by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Act, 2011, the Elections Act, 2011 and the Political Parties Act, 2011. Individual political rights and the electoral process cannot be divorced from one another but must go hand in hand. It is therefore proper that the political rights are realized within a structured process that takes into account the larger interests of the society and the need for a free and fair election which is enhanced by a self-contained dispute resolution mechanism underpinned by the Constitution itself and statutes enacted to give effect to its provisions."

[4] In the premises,the 1st Respondent's decision of 9 June 2017 upholding the decision of the 2nd Respondent, who rejected the Petitioner's nomination papers on 30 June 2017having largely been complied with, it is too late in the day for the Court to issue the orders sought herein vide prayers (4), (5) or (6) of the Notice of Motion dated 19 June 2017. In the premises, that Notice of Motion is hereby dismissed with an order that the costs thereof be in the cause.

Orders accordingly.

DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT NAIROBI THIS 24TH DAY OF JULY 2017

OLGA SEWE

JUDGE