Presidential Aspirant Suffers Blow as Court Suspends Order Directing IEBC to Consider His Papers

Presidential Aspirant Reuben Kigame has been dealt a blow by the court of appeal after it suspended order directing IEBC to consider his papers.

High Court had directed the IEBC to consider Kigame's papers that they had rejected when he sought clearance to vie for the presidency.

IEBC, however, appealed the high court ruling arguing that the order was time barred and would have a negative impact on the prepaprations for the presidential polls.

The commission said they will have to postpone the coming presidential elections to allow Kigame on the ballot adding that it will also welcome additional costs.

Justices Wanjiru Karanja, Francis Tuyiott and Hellen Omondi allowed the application by the electoral commission to stay the judgement pending the hearing of the case.

“The appellant to serve the respondents, the respondent shall serve before Sunday. In the meantime, stay of execution of the High Court judgment,” the court ruled.

Lawyer John Khaminwa , representing Kigame, had asked the court to wait for outcome of a meeting between his client and the IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati before issuing the ruling.

The meeting was set to be held at 11 am Thursday July 21.

IEBC Lawyer Eric Gumbo, however, opposed the plan saying it would derail the process as the matter had to be resolved for IEBC to continue with preparations for polls.

Gumbo argued that the matter in ocurt was about the High Court ruling and not the meeting between Kigame and Chebukati.

The two lawyer also diferred when Khaminwa claimed he had not been served with the appeal while Gumbo claimed he had been served.

The case will be heard on Monday July 25.