A high court judge has nullified the election of Gatundu North MP Wanjiku Kibe on grounds of irregularities on the part of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), making her the first female legislator to lose her seat.

Judge Joel Ngugi, who sits at the High Court in Kiambu County, ruled that the election held in August 2017 was marred by massive irregularities and that the process was not free and fair.

Justice Ngugi however solely blamed the IEBC for the poll illegalities and absolved Ms Kibe, a former nominated MCA, of any responsibility in the electoral offences cited.

“The first respondent simply offered herself for the election as a candidate and diligently did her campaign. She is a victim of the second respondent’s (IEBC’s) failure as much as the people of Gatundu North constituency are,” said Justice Ngugi.

Among the irregularities noted was the loss of four unused ballot booklets of 50 ballot papers each from Mungai, Kawira and Mang’u polling stations.

The petition to nullify Ms Kibe’s election was filled by Mr Clement Waibara who served as the area MP between 2007 and 2013.

IEBC has been ordered to pay Sh 3 million as legal fee to the MP and Sh 1.5 million to Mr Waibara.

ALFRED KETER ELECTION NULLIFIED

Embattled Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter and Ugenya Member of Parliament Chris Karani were also stripped of their seats today after successful petitions against their election.

Judge Kanyi Kimondo nullified  Keter’s election  citing massive illegalities and irregularities during the election process.

Losing his parliamentary seat is the latest hitch the outspoken Nandi MP has to contend with, following his recent arrest for alleged fraud.

Keter was arrested  alongside two businessmen Arthur Sakwa and Madat Chatur a week ago at the CBK headquarters for allegedly presenting a set of forged Treasury Bills worth Sh633 million, which were purportedly issued by the CBK in 1990.

Last month, he was ousted as chairman of the Labour and Social Welfare Committee after President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered Jubilee MPs to vote him out for going against the party.

The nullification of Keter, Kibe and Karani’s elections brings to five the number of legislators who have lost their seats. The other two are Markawet East MP Kangogo Bowen, and Lamu West’s Stanley Muthama).