Friday, the IEBC suffered a major setback after a five-judge bench affirmed the High Court’s decision that results declared by returning officers cannot be altered or changed at the National Polling Centre. Spirited fightAttorney General Githu Muigai and two lawyers hired by the commission, lost the case despite spiritedly arguing that IEBC chairman had the final word on the declaration of the presidential results. The Opposition, led by lawyer James Orengo and Africog Director Maina Kiai, opposed the appeal against a High Court ruling that had decreed that results tallied and announced by the returning officers at the constituencies were final. “The entire case was inviting the court not to a constitutional text but to discuss a political theory.”Raila wasted no time in expressing his excitement with the court ruling on declaration of results. The court also threw out the argument by IEBC that the High Court had no powers to hear the case, arguing that presidential election matters are a reserve of the Supreme Court.

Source: Standard Digital June 23, 2017 19:09 UTC