Governor Joseph Ole Lenku and his inner circle have assembled a battery of top lawyers to scrutinise the Petition filed at the Kajiado High Court challenging his win on August 9.
The lawyers will defend the Governor’s election together with the legal counsel of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission who have a duty to confirm that the gubernatorial election held on August 9 was a true reflection of the will of the People of Kajiado.
The Governor’s aides were tight lipped on the eight lawyers but close sources say former EACC director Mumo Matemu and lawyer Mayian Sankale have been at the centre of the Governor’s legal assignments and will be playing a critical role in the Petition.
The Petition is filed by his UDA Competitor, Katoo Ole Metito, who lost to him by 6,000 votes.
Metito, the immediate former Kajiado South MP, is asking the Court to order a recounts and Tallying of the gubernatorial votes.
He also wants the court to declare him the duly elected Governor.
According to the election results, Lenku’s Presidential Candidate Raila Odinga garnered 158,556 Votes while Metito’s candidate William Ruto scooped 148,449 a difference of 10,107 votes.
In total, the Presidential votes cast in Kajiado 308,624 while the total gubernatorial votes cast were 307,323, a figure that is regarded within acceptable margins.
Yesterday, Governor Lenku exuded confidence and termed the Petition as “hot air”.
“There are people who can’t believe We beat them. They had a lot of hopes but it all fell flat. In 2017, a similar group challenged my win but they failed. This time, they will fall with a louder bang’,” said the Governor.
Analysts had earlier opined that it was very difficult to identify and prove irregularities on the side of the IEBC that would have had an alternative result.
” It is about proving you had won the election and not the declared winner. Any other stories are a waste of time. There are people who think hearsay and stories can influence a court,” said Lawyer Daniel Kanchori,Lenku’s County Chief Agent.