Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader Raila Odinga ,co-chief Kalonzo Musyoka, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula and Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale
BY SAM ALFAN.
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission have ruled that it will not expunge Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula’s name from the voters register.
In their ruling the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission noted that there was no justification to strike out Wetangula’s name from the voters register.
IEBC had formed a committee to accord Bungoma Senator Wetangula an opportunity to show cause why he should not be deregistered as a voter. The five member committee comprised of
Thomas Letangule (Chairperson), Lilian Mahiri-Zaja (member), Mohamed Alawi (member), Crispin Owiye (secretary) and Moses Kipkogei acting as the assisting Counsel.
CORD politicians expressed solidarity with the Bungoma senator and sat with him throughout the ruling at the Milimani law courts. Senator Moses Wetangula thanked members of the committee for delivering a fair ruling he also thanked his CORD co-principles for standing with him during the trying times.
Alawi added that there was not sufficient evidence suggesting the Senator’s guilt as he was not convicted of the offence.
In a hearing on January 12, lawyer James Orengo had said
Wetang’ula could not be deregistered without a conviction for an electoral offence.
“The Supreme Court did not find any criminality in my client. He has not been convicted of an election offence hence he cannot be barred,” Orengo had said.
“You can commit an offence but not be convicted of that offence,” he further said, noting a person is disqualified from being elected if he is of unsound mind.
Speaking after the determination at the Milimani law courts on Tuesday, Wetang’ula thanked Kenyans for their support since the matter was raised.
“Lightning does not strike a tree twice. I sincerely thank Kenyans, Cord co-principals and Cord supporters who took time to come and be with me,” he said.
Orengo said Cord is “happier because justice has been severed”.
On March 17, the Supreme Court upheld the decisions of the High Court in Bungoma and Appeals Court in Kisumu that found Wetang’ula guilty of voter bribery.
Though the High Court wanted Wetang’ula barred from subsequent elections, the Appeals Court allowed him to contest the by-election, pending the determination of the appeal he had lodged against the election offences ruling.
The Senator risked being barred from elections for as many as 10 years.
