Thika reacts after repeat poll case fail to take off.
Majority of Thika residents have welcomed the Supreme Court's
decision to postpone its decision to stop tomorrow’s presidential repeats due
to a quorum hitch.
Tension was high in the morning before the three cases whose
outcome could have stopped the vote tomorrow were pending decisions in three
different courts, including the highest court in the land. This tension had
been precipitated by memories of the September 1 SCOK ruling that nullified the
presidential results then.
As the uncertainty continued to loom over the October 26
poll, People could be seen analysing various possibilities for the
outcomes. But one thing was certain, none was confident to say that Chief
Justice David Maraga would throw away the cases.
Things became ‘elephant’ after Justice George Odunga ruled that
appointment of Returning Officers and
their deputies was illegal, dealing a ‘major blow’ to the Independent
Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). This was interpreted to mean that
there would be no elections tomorrow.
“These courts have
been bribed to always rule in favour of NASA. And by the way, what else do you
expect from Justice Odunga?” asked Shadrack Murage, a food vendor.
The Supreme Court on
the other hand, was expected to deliver a verdict on the latest petition lodged
on Tuesday by three voters which to give clarity to the fate of October 26
repeat poll date. This was the real bombshell that the residents dreaded most.
However, people
celebrated the decision by Justice Maraga to defer his case due to lack of
quorum with some saying that express his excitement, claiming that the evil
schemes to deny Kenyans the right to vote had failed and that the country will
decide and move forward.
“We welcome the
decision by the court. The demands made by the NASA leaders are unreasonable. These
court battles have adversely affected every aspect of life in Kenya,” said
Njoki Mwangi, a resident of Section 2 Estate.
Majority of those we
spoke to believed that the judiciary as well as the fundamental rights of
citizens have been grossly been abused to a point that Kenyans may soon start
disregarding the courts at will.
“These courts have
become too much! The decisions from our courts have ended up being a mockery to
natural justice,” said an angry Njoki.
Nonetheless, the
latest developments have ignited the sparks and the urge to vote in tomorrow’s
poll. Those we spoke to vowed to report early tomorrow so as to ‘solve this
puzzle’ once and for all.
Meanwhile, Thika
Town MP has made arrangements to have those unable to reach the polling
stations, get transported so as to ensure that all potential voters cast their
votes. He has set up call centre that will cater all cases in the ward level.
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