A Nairobi court on Thursday summoned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman, Wafula Chebukati, and six electoral officials to testify in the attempted suicide case of former presidential aspirant Solomon Gichira.
In his directive, Milimani Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi indicated that the IEBC officials should appear in court to give evidence on the case of Mr Gichira, who was arrested after he attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the sixth floor of IEBC offices in 2017.
The Judge issued this directive after the case failed to proceed for lack of evidence.
Prosecutor Solomon Naulikha explained that all witnesses failed to appear since they were attending a seminar in Mombasa.
[caption caption="Solomon Gichira (Facebook)"]
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"I, therefore, seek summonses to all witnesses in this case, including Chebukati, to appear in court on the next hearing date," Naulikha stated.
The defence, led by lawyer Dedan Wachira, unsuccessfully opposed the prosecution's application stating that the team was delaying the matter.
Mr Gichira attempted to commit suicide after the IEBC denied him a chance to present his papers and run as an independent candidate for the presidential seat in the 2017 election.
After his arrest, the court charged him with attempting to commit suicide, creating commotion and destroying IEBC property worth Sh 134,386.
The former Presidential aspirant was accused of damaging an internet socket, a window, an air conditioner machine and an aluminium window.
He was faulted for causing disruption at the Anniversary Towers offices by shouting as he demanded an explanation on why he could not present his nomination papers despite a court order.
[caption caption="Former Presidential aspirant Solomon Gichira addresing journalists (Twitter)"]
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He denied all the charges and was released on a cash bail of Sh200,000.
