On Thursday, the High Court upheld Joseph ole Lenku's election as governor of Kajiado, citing the petitioner's lack of supporting documentation.

PHOTO | COURTESY Court upholds Lenku's win

Judge Janet Mulwa's decision related to a petition initially brought by Mr Katoo ole Metito, now the State House's comptroller.

After being appointed, Mr Ole Metito, the United Democratic Alliance's (UDA) 2022 candidate for governor of Kajiado, withdrew from the petition.

Mr Ole Lenku's petition was taken over by Mr Paul Kerempu, a teacher and former county employee.

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The petitioner had detailed eight claims, including voter bribery, ballot box stuffing, county officers acting as agents in the election, and blocking UDA agents from entering polling places, to have Governor Ole Lenku's victory declared illegal.

PHOTO | COURTESY Petition against his win was filed by Katoo Ole Metito before he withdrew amid his state house comptroller appointment

Judge Mulwa threw out the case and assessed the petitioner an Sh2 million fee.

She said that the petitioner had not supported his claims with evidence and that the allegations made in court were unfounded.

"In order for the court to void any election, the petitioner will always have the burden of proof regarding the charges. The petition is hereby dismissed with costs by the court "Judge Mulwa ruled.

Last December, Mr Ole Lenku testified in court that he had won the August 9 governor's race legitimately and that the result accurately reflected the electorate's wishes.

The governor said he defeated Mr Ole Metito, his closest rival, in three of the five constituencies and acknowledged that he lost in both his home district of Kajiado South and the metropolitan Kajiado North Constituency.

Mr Kerempu said there were anomalies in the election and that United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidates were denied access to the polling places, particularly in Kajiado South.

PHOTO | COURTESY Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku

With his victory confirmed, Mr Ole Lenku will now face a plethora of obstacles in his final term in office, including the county's soaring wage bill, a drought that is hurting at least 400,000 families, young unemployment, water scarcity, and a lack of sewer lines in satellite towns.

Mr Ole Lenku received 117,600 votes, while the UDA candidate came in second with 111,725 votes.