Justice Ojwang’ Puts Petitioner’s Lawyer to Task On Akombe’s Letter

The hearing of a second petition challenging President Uhuru Kenyatta’s on October 26 re-election started on a high note as the two applicants described their case as a petition by Kenyans for Kenyans.

Through lawyer Julie Soweto, Mr Njonjo Mue and Khelef Khalifa told the court that they represent the face of Kenya with one of them being a Muslim and the other a Christian.

READ ALSO:CJ Maraga Issues New Orders To Chebukati During Hearing of Petitions

In the middle of her submission,Ms Soweto quoted a statement by Mr Chebukati on October 18, 2017 on the status of preparedness of the election stating that it shows the dysfunction at the commission.

The address was made a day after the resignation of Commissioner Roselyn Akombe.

She said Mr Chebukati publicly admitted the resignation and the reasons given by Dr Akombe for her resignation.

But Justice Jackton Ojwang’ interjected her and questioned the veracity of the statement saying whether she can vouch for the statement.He also sought to know whether Akombe’s statement was just hearsay or a sworn affidavit before the court.

In her response, Ms Soweto said the statement was sworn by the IEBC Chairman in an affidavit tabled before the Apex court,therefore it was admissible and not a mere hearsay.

READ ALSO:CJ Maraga Issues New Orders To Chebukati During Hearing of Petitions

President Kenyatta’s lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi also objected to the reference of the statement, saying Dr Akombe has not sworn a statement in court- to say that this is her statement.

Here is the video of the incident;