15 June 2011
Nairobi — The interim electoral body has challenged a court’s decision to award Sh48 million to Trade minister Chirau Mwakwere and a voter who successfully petitioned against the 2007 Matuga parliamentary elections.
The Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) says the amounts awarded by Mombasa resident magistrate Tito Gesora were too high, baseless and unjustified.
The commission was ordered to pay Mr Mwakwere Sh24,287,829 and Sh24,257,725 to Mr Ayub Mwakesi, the voter.
The magistrate also ordered that the returning officer be paid Sh4 million after allegations of malpractice against him were dismissed.
Mr Gesora awarded the minister and the voter Sh18 million each as costs of the petition and Sh6 million each as instruction fees.
However, IIEC director of legal and public affairs Praxedes Tororey says that the amounts should be reviewed to Sh1.8 million and Sh600,000, respectively.
Ms Tororey said that in the by-elections held last July, the commission spent almost Sh50 million, and to impose costs of 48.5 million would involve a significant loss to the public coffers.
The case will proceed on July 21.
AllAfrica – All the Time
See original article:
IIEC Wants Mwakwere Court Award Reduced