A close ally of Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho has been fined a whooping Sh2.5 million by a Mombasa Court.
Former Kisauni parliamentary aspirant Rashid Bedzimba was directed to pay costs after losing an election petition against incumbent MP Ali Mbogo who was elected through the Wiper Democratic Movement ticket on August 8, 2017.
Justice Erick Ogolla of the Mombasa High Court ruled that Bedzimba who lost his seat failed to provide sufficient evidence to support his petition which cited electoral malpractice such as voter bribery, intimidation, violence and harassment by police officers against his agents.
The ODM ex-lawmaker had also claimed IEBC conducted elections in un-gazetted polling stations.
During the campaign period, Joho widely campaigned for Bedzimba.
"The petitioner needed to prove who gave bribery and who received it but no evidence was rendered in this claims, therefore, the allegation of voter bribery, in this case, does not have merit,” said the Judge on Monday.
His rival, Mbogo and supporters celebrated the win outside the court buildings, saying it was time to work for the people of the Kisauni constituency.