Evans Gor Semelang’o

Former Youth Development boss Evans Gor Semelang’o has been barred by the high court from running in the Mathare parliamentary by-election with polling due in only a few days (Monday 11th), for failure to exit office six months before the poll as stipulated by law.

Mr Semelang’o had moved to court to challenge the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), through the Mathare constituency returning officer, for failure to issue him with a nomination certificate on grounds that he had not meet some stipulations required in the Election Act to run in an election.

SEMELANG’O STILL A PUBLIC OFFICER

High Court Judge, Justice Mumbi Ngugi dismissed Semelango’s application to have his name included in the ballot papers stating that “it did not matter whether he resigned or had his appointment revoked, the issue was he was still in office six months to the Mathare by election.”

IEBC lawyer Edwin Mukele argued that six months to the election, Semelang’o was still a public officer in the government and maintained that they acted in full compliance of the law when they barred the petitioner from running for the election.

Gor applied to appeal against the judgment and Justice Mumbi gave him a nod.

Semelang’o was appointed the youth development fund chairman by President Mwai Kibaki on January 16 last year after serving for three years as a board member but President Uhuru Kenyatta annulled his position on February 27 this year.