Magarini Constituency voters are set for a by-election after a Malindi court nullified the election victory of Harrison Garama Kombe as the area Member of Parliament.
Justice Alfred Mabeya cited massive irregularities including ballot stuffing and exchange of votes during the August 9, 2022 poll as the reasons for the nullification of a judgment delivered virtually.
This is following a petition of the election outcome by the former Kilifi County Assembly Deputy Speaker Stanley Karisa Kenga.
Speaking to journalists after the ruling, he thanked the court for confirming that his complaint was genuine as he was sure he had won the election.
Further, he expressed confidence that he would clinch the seat during the impending by-election
Mr Kenga contested on a UDA party ticket and polled 11,925 votes against Kombe’s 11,946, a difference of 21 votes.
The race attracted seven aspirants.
UDA leaders Philip Mbaji and Daniel Chiriba called on Kenya Kwanza to sponsor only one candidate for the by-election to assure the coalition victory and recommended that Mr Kenga be given that ticket.
This is the second time Kombe has suffered a setback through the nullification of his election victory.
He won the seat on a Shirikisho Party of Kenya in 2002 but the victory was quashed in 2007 leading to a by-election, in which he won.
He was floored by Mr Amason Jeffa Kingi (Current Senate Speaker) in the 2007 General Election but recaptured the same in 2013, but lost the seat to Kingi’s brother, Michael Thoya Kingi in 2017.
