Clash of legal minds as Kenya Presidential petition beckons

By Moses Kinyanjui, NAIROBI Kenya

As team led by its Presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga presents its petition challenging the presidential results before the Supreme Court, a battery of legal minds is gearing up to lock horns in the 2-week-long hearing led by Apex court judges.

(From left to right) Raila Odinga, Wafula Chebukati and William Ruto

Odinga has rejected the results which showed that the UDA Party candidate William Ruto was declared the winner, terming them as null and void.

The deadline for filing the petition, according to a notice issued by the Judiciary, is by 2pm. It will then be determined 14 days from today (Monday) by seven Apex Court judges led by Chief Justice Martha Koome.

Those appearing before the floor of the court will be Kenya Kwanza led by William Ruto, Azimio la Umoja led by Raila Odinga and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) led by its chairman Wafula Chebukati.

The three teams have announced the names of the lawyers who will be representing them in the Supreme Court battle.

Raila Odinga's team will have Prof Tom Ojienda, Otiende Amollo, Paul Mwangi, Pheroze Norwojee, Ex Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Phillip Murgor, Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo and Makueni Senator Jnr Daniel Maanzo.

On the other hand, William Ruto's team will be fronting Fred Ngatia, Adrian Kamotho, Ex Tharaka-Nithi Senator Prof Kithure Kindiki , Former LSK president Nelson Havi and Collins Kiprono.

Wafula Chebukati's team on the other hand will have Prof Githu Muigai, Kamau Karori, Abdikadir Mohamed, Eric Gumbo, Peter Wanyama and Edwin Mukele. 

Lawyer AhmedNassir Abdulahi was also among those included in Ruto's team opted out on Sunday evening, claiming his presence would invoke client-advocate privilege issues. 

"I want but I can't act for President Elect Ruto in the Supreme Court. I'm conflicted. In 2017 I acted for outgoing President Uhuru against Hon Raila. Now that Uhuru's project (Hon Raila) is challenging Ruto's victory obviously Uhuru will object & raise clients-Advocate privilege," he wrote on Twitter.