[2017] KEHC 2440 (KLR)

[2017] KEHC 2440 (KLR)

The court found that while the petitioners had not made a specific request for information directly attributable to them, the right to access information is to be interpreted liberally, and the burden shifts to the state entity to justify any refusal. However, the motion did not specifically pray for disclosure of...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2017] KEHC 2440 (KLR)
Parties
Applicant: Ahmed Abdullahi Mohamad; Applicant: Ahmed Muhumud Abdi; Respondent: Hon. Mohamed Abdi Mohamed; Respondent: Gichohi Gatuma Patrick; Respondent: Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Commercial Courts)
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Election Petition 14 of 2017
Procedural Posture
Election Petition / Ruling on Interlocutory Application for Scrutiny and Access to Information
Outcome
Application for scrutiny and recount allowed in part; orders for supply, delivery, and scrutiny of specified election materials and recount in affected polling stations granted; costs to abide the outcome of the petition.
Judges
A Mabeya
Legal Topics
Scrutiny of Votes, Access to Information, Burden of Proof in Election Petitions, Disclosure of Election Materials, Judicial Discretion in Scrutiny, Electoral Irregularities
Source Language
en
Election Petitions Constitutional Law Scrutiny of Votes Access to Information Burden of Proof in Election Petitions Disclosure of Election Materials Judicial Discretion in Scrutiny Electoral Irregularities

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Parties

Ahmed Abdullahi Mohamad

Applicant

Ahmed Muhumud Abdi

Applicant

Hon. Mohamed Abdi Mohamed

Respondent

Gichohi Gatuma Patrick

Respondent

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Election Petition / Ruling on Interlocutory Application for Scrutiny and Access to Information

  1. 1 Whether the petitioners are entitled to access information and election materials from the respondents for the purpose of prosecuting the petition.
  2. 2 Whether the petitioners have established sufficient basis for an order of scrutiny and recount in specified polling stations.
  3. 3 Whether the application for scrutiny and access to information was made in accordance with the law and at the appropriate stage of proceedings.

Ratio Decidendi

The court found that while the petitioners had not made a specific request for information directly attributable to them, the right to access information is to be interpreted liberally, and the burden shifts to the state entity to justify any refusal. However, the motion did not specifically pray for disclosure of information. On the issue of scrutiny, the court held that the petitioners had established sufficient cause, through pleadings and evidence, to warrant scrutiny and recount in the specified polling stations. The court emphasized that scrutiny is discretionary, must be based on sufficient grounds, and should not be used as a fishing expedition. The court was satisfied that the...

Court Disposition

Application for scrutiny and recount allowed in part; orders for supply, delivery, and scrutiny of specified election materials and recount in affected polling stations granted; costs to abide the outcome of the petition.

Orders

  • The 2nd and 3rd respondents shall supply and deliver for inspection and scrutiny, for the gubernatorial election for Wajir County, the following: Forms 37A, 37B, and 37C for specified polling stations and constituencies; inventory of result declaration forms; printed and marked copies of the register of voters;...
  • In respect of the affected polling stations listed in the ruling, the 2nd and 3rd respondents shall supply original Forms 37A and polling station diaries, marked copy of the register and KIEMS logs or SD cards, deliver all ballot boxes for the gubernatorial election, and there shall be a recount of votes therein,...