Africa-Press – Kenya. Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi Jiir was on Tuesday put to task to explain how he won the hotly contested August 9 polls. The governor said he learnt there was chaos in Eldas leading to postponement of election to the following day.
Abdullahi told Justice George Ndulu communication on the postponement was done by the IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati after he received the complaints of insecurity in the area by the security chiefs. He was being cross-examined by lawyer Mansur Issa representing the petitioner, former NHIF chief executive officer Hassan Adam.
When asked to explain to the court how politics in Wajir is largely clan-based, the governor said there are 12 Degodia sub-clans and 11 had unanimously endorsed him. Only the Fai sub-clan to which Adam belongs was indecisive.
The sub-clan had produced four candidates for governor (Ugas Mohamed, Mohamed Elmi, Mohamed Abdi Mohamud and the petitioner). “I agree with the petitioner’s allegations that there was violence in Eldas constituency during the August elections but it was not enough to postpone elections,” he told the court.
However, the governor said he was not aware when the violence was contained by the security personnel deployed, adding that the violence was occasioned by a disagreement between two parliamentary contestants.
“I am aware there were insecurity incidents in Wajir east constituency on August 6 and 7 and we buried four people, and that was not a reason to postpone elections,” said Abdullahi.
He told the court it was not the first time such incidents happened in that constituency and that’s the main reason there were security forces in Turbo. In the case, Adam has sued Abdullahi, Ahmed Abdi, IEBC returning officer Wajir county, and Mohamed Adan Ali.
Adam told court that Abdullahi was not validly elected and IEBC did not put in place mechanisms to ensure the voters were biometrically identified before being allowed to vote in a number of polling stations.
He argued the process was marred with padding of votes, exaggeration of voter turnout, irregular and unlawful assisted voting and ejection of his agents from several polling stations in Wajir East and West constituencies.
Adam said IEBC unlawfully postponed the election in Eldas constituency to August 10. He said no communication was made to the candidates in relation to the postponement yet they had already deployed their agents to their respective polling stations.
“As a consequence of this unlawful postponement, there was interference with the voting held on August 10, with cases of intimidation and coercion of voters in several polling stations in Eldas constituency,” he said.
He wants the court to declare that the current governor and his deputy were not validly elected. He also sought is an order for scrutiny and recount in 20 polling stations.
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