BY SAM ALFAN.
The court has dismissed a request to halt the swearing in of MPS.
A women lobby had asked the court to stop the process slated for Thursday.
Women Candidates Network Kenya (WOCAN-KENYA) also wanted all party lists prepared and submitted to IEBC revoked.
“If the swearing in proceeds before the determination of the petition the same will be rendered nugatory,” Interim Secretary General of the lobby Catherine Omayo said.
Through lawyer Gitobu Imanyara, the women asked the court to order that Section 34(9) and 35 of the Elections Act are unconstitutional to the extent that they bar and discriminate women and the marginalized.
“The effect of the provision is to discriminate against women and other marginalized members who have at-least made an attempt to represent the party in the general elections, but as the democracy would have it, they lost,” she said.
Among the challenges women face in electioneering period, they told the court are harassment, insecurity and blatant intimidation.
Justice John Motivo directed the matter be mentioned on Monday for further directions.
