The Supreme Court, on Thursday, upheld the election of Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Jackton B. Ojwang faulted judgments of both the Trial and Appellate courts stating the county head was validly elected.
Awiti's counsel comprised of Senator James Orengo and MP Otiende Amollo who were elated by the judgment.
"Our victory has been endorsed and confirmed. We are extending a hand of comradeship and working together until the next election cycle. Let us focus on the development agenda," Awiti's camp declared after the ruling by the Supreme court.
There were celebrations outside the court as supporters of Awiti who had waited since early afternoon for the ruling danced in victory.
Reacting to the ruling, Lawyer Charles Wanjama who was representing the main challenger, Oyugi Magwanga, stated that they would respect the decision of the Supreme Court.
"The decision of the Supreme Court is final and there is a hierarchy of courts. That is the end of the road as far as the Hom Bay election of 2017 is concerned," he told journalists.
Awiti had moved to the Supreme Court after Appeal judges upheld an earlier judgment of the High Court that had established that the IEBC failed to conduct a free and fair poll.
The initial petition was filed by immediate former Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga at the High Court which Justice Joseph Karanja found had merit and ordered a fresh election.
When High Court Judge Justice Karanja nullified Awiti's election in 2018, he faulted the IEBC for conducting the election shoddily adding there were two sets of conflicting results in the governor’s election.
Justice Karanja ruled: “There were two conflicting results presented by both the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the petitioner."
The High Court judge had then further stated: "It was the responsibility of the IEBC to distinguish the genuine one but it failed to do so.”
