[Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali. He was reelected during the August polls. Courtesy: The Star]
A petition challenging the reelection of Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali in the August 8 general elections has been thrown out by Kakamega High Court.The petition was struck out after the court established that affidavits sworn by the petitioner, David Wamatsi were forgeries.While delivering the ruling, Justice Jesse Njagi observed that Wamatsi's petition was null without support of affidavits.According to Mr Njagi, both the petitioner's affidavit and those of his witnesses were commissioned by a law firm not authorized to commission oaths.“The petition filed without true documents is not a complete petition. It is a still birth and should not be allowed to see the light of the day,” he said.“A petition filed without affidavits is not a petition because it lacks witnesses. I hereby dismiss the petition with costs to both respondents,” he added.On his part, Washiali lauded the court's ruling.“I am happy and I was ready for the full trial and even ready to go back and recount the votes but since the case has collapsed before hearing, let’s get back to work," the lawmaker stated.