Two judges of the Court of Appeal leave the Karua case, citing close ties

Two appeal judges withdrew on Tuesday from an electoral petition filed by Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua against Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru

and Judge Fatuma Sichale and Sankale ole Kantai recused themselves. 19659002] They also said that they are longtime friends with the leader of the NARC Kenya Party

Karua wants the Court of Appeals to overturn a High Court ruling that upheld Waiguru's victory .

Judge Sichale told Presiding Judge William Ouko Long-standing friendship with Karua since his stint at the Federation of Women Jurists – IFAD

Judge Kantai stated that his links with the petitioner date back to the time of the year. when she was still a lawyer and when she became Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. the government of the grand coalition.

The judges informed the court of their decision to withdraw when the appeal was brought to the attention of the hearing.

Karua went to the court of appeal after the Kerugoya High Court upheld Waiguru's victory on June 14 for lack of merit.

This was the second time that the court dismissed the decision. petition following a similar decision on November 15, 2017.

Read: Martha Karua petition against Waiguru to be heard again

In Judgment of November, Judge Lucy Gitari stated that Karua's petition was "fatally flawed , hopeless and incurable ". 19659002] She said that Karua omitted mandatory information in her petition on the disputed election results and the dates on which they were declared by IEBC

"Permitting the petition to omit mandatory information would violate the rights of respondent at fair trial Judge Gitari stated:

In the June 14 decision, the judge stated that Waiguru's August 8, 2017 elections were free and fair

.] Karua cited the corruption of voters, the alteration of ballots and the exclusion of his agents in various polling stations as motives of the petition.

The former minister also called for the Waiguru's votes were inflated by more than 48,000 votes.The results reported by the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) reflect the sovereign will of the Kirinyaga people, "said Judge Gitari.

She said that Ka rua had not proved that the elections were tainted with illegalities and irregularities. With a cost of 5 million Sh – Sh3 million payable to the IEBC and Sh2 million to Waiguru.

Read: Karua loses bid to dethrone Waiguru, slapped with cost Sh5m

Click here for latest political news