Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu. [Photo/nationmedia.coke]
All eyes are now on the no-nonsense Supreme Court judge Philomena Mwilu ahead of the hearing of a petition filed by political activist Okiya Omtata.
Ms. Mwilu has been charged with the uphill task of constituting a bench that will hear and rule on the petition.
Thanks to Omtata's petition, the embattled IEBC finds itself in the dock over overlooking the 2013 Supreme Court ruling that directed that in case of a rerun, the only contenders allowed to participate are the declared winner and the candidate who successfully petitioned against the declaration.
The political activist argues that by involving all eight candidates on the ballot, the IEBC acted in contravention of the 2013 ruling.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and the IEBC have submitted that the Supreme Court does not have the jurisdiction adjudicate the matters thrown by Omtata's petition.
Speaking to a local radio station, Omtata dismissed Kenyatta's and IEBC's contention, saying that it is the High Court which advised him to file the matter at the Supreme Court.
''They are saying that it is the High Court which has the jurisdiction yet it is the High Court which asked me to go the Supreme Court.'' He said.