High Court Judge Lucy Gitari has refused to opt out of the Kirinyaga governorship race as requested by former Gichugu MP Martha Karua.
The judge, who had initially thrown out the petition, stated that Karua wants a judicial officer who will rule in her favour in her case against current Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru.
"Even though I am the petitioner, I am also a trained and practising lawyer hence IEBC and Waiguru's lawyers should accord her me the respect I deserve," she stated.
Through lawyer Gitobu Imanyara, the Narc Kenya leader had filed an application seeking the presiding judge Gitari to disqualify herself from hearing the petition afresh.
[caption caption="Martha Karua"]
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Karua remarked that she cannot trust to get justice from the same judge as she was "biased".
She further expressed concern that in her earlier ruling, the High Court judge used unnecessary strong words.
"In your ruling, you said the petition was highly defective, hopeless and dead that construes to mean even if you hear it a new it cannot be resurrected,''she asserted.
Mr Imanyara also faulted the judge for failing to record Ms Karua's submissions while she was dismissing the election petition.
During the petition hearing last month, the former legislator demanded to be accorded respect by Waiguru's lawyers and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Speaking in the courtroom, she reiterated that she was a practising lawyer and hence, demanded to be addressed as a learned petitioner.
[caption caption="Judge Lucy Gitari"]
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