Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi during his Mombasa counterpart Governor Hassan Joho's swearing-in ceremony. [Photo: Amason Kingi/ facebook.com]
Four Coast governors are facing legal battles after their opponents and other interested parties filed petitions challenging their victory in the August 8 elections.
The four, Governors Amason Kingi (Kilifi), Dhadho Godhana (Tana River), Granton Samboja (Taita-Taveta) and Fwaha Twaha’s (Lamu) are among the 120 petitions filed in various courts following the nullification of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s win by the Supreme Court.Former Lamu Governor Issa Timamy said elections in the county were marred by several malpractices that saw him lose to Twaha.“We hope to win the case since our rival did not win the election fairly,” said Timamy, as quoted by the Nation.“In fact, residents are wondering how I lost the election,” he added.In Tana River, a petitioner moved to court seeking the nullification of Governor Godhana’s win on grounds that he has no academic qualification to hold such an office.His Taita Taveta counterpart Governor Samboja is facing a similar case after a resident, Armstrong Kiwoi, sought the nullification of his win citing lack of academic qualifications. Samboja was recently dealt a blow after Kenyatta University disowned his degree.In Kilifi, former Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro wants Governor Kingi’s win nullified, accusing him of engaging in electoral malpractices.