Wajackoyah Will Participate At Supreme Court Despite Justina Wamae's Advice

Wajackoyah's running mate, Justina Wamae, made new bold claims that she had advised him against going to court to protest Ruto's victory

Wajackoyah Will Participate At Supreme Court Despite Justina Wamae's Advice
Roots Party presidential candidate Prof George Wajackoyah at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa on July 26, 2022. /NAIROBI NEWS

Roots Party leader, George Wajackoyah will be taking part in the presidential petitions at the Supreme Court of Kenya where Azimio la Umoja coalition leader Raila Odinga and eight others are challenging the declaration of William Ruto as the president-elect.

However, the former presidential candidate will take up a different role as an interested party, enjoined in two petitions filed against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Speaking to Viral Tea, a highly placed source privy to the proceedings noted that Wajackoyah will join in the petitions filed by Busia Senator-elect Okiya Omtatah and gospel singer, Reuben Kigame, who was vying for the presidency but did not make it to the ballot.

Presidential aspirant Reuben Kigame. /FILE

"He has been enjoined as an interested party in both Omtatah and Reuben Kigame’s petition so definitely we shall be in the Supreme Court," the source disclosed.

On Monday, August 22 during a K24 interview, Wajackoyah's running mate, Justina Wamae, made new bold claims that she had advised him against going to court to protest Ruto's victory given that they lacked the financial muscle during the process to build a strong case.

"As it is, we haven't had a meeting, because my boss had said that he is going to go to court. I spoke to him on phone and told him it wasn't viable given that we hadn't organised ourselves in terms of agent mobilisation.

"You cannot leave your gate open and still cry foul that your stuff has been stolen. So, we're still thinking in these lines," she noted at the time.

Omtatah wanted the presidential elections quashed as well as the declaration of the president-elect and the deputy president-elect thrown out arguing that none of the candidates who contested for the top seat attained 50 per cent plus one threshold as required by the constitution.

"We seek for an order quashing the results of the presidential elections announced by the Chairman vide Form 34C dated 15th August 2022, quashing Form 34D (the election Certificate) issued to the purported President-elect on 15th August 2022 and quashing the declaration of persons elected as president-elect and deputy president-elect announced by the Chairman," read part of the petition.

"A declaration that at least 140,028 number of untallied votes substantially affects the final results to the extent that none of the four candidates meets the 50 per cent + 1 constitutional threshold." 

Kigame on his petition argued that the IEBC had denied him and other independent candidates their civil and political rights to vie for the top seat in the land.

“It is quite apparent that the denial by the respondents (IEBC) to have the petitioner on the presidential ballot was unfair, unreasonable, baseless and unfounded, despite his determined efforts," his petition read in part.

The deadline for the third-party application is set for Wednesday, August 31. A pre-trial conference will then be held for one day on Tuesday, August 30.

The deadline for rendering the judgment is set for Monday, September 5, this is 14 days after the petitions were filed at the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court judges set to hear presidential election petitions. /CITIZEN DIGITAL