The East African Court of Justice has awarded Martha Karua Ksh 2,752,500 in damages for violation of her rights to fair hearing in an election petition against Kirinyaga Governor, Waiguru’ Anne’s election victory in 2017.
In a ruling made by a 5-judge bench led by Justice Isaac Lenaora, on the 30th of November 2020, the State is said to have infringed on Karua’s rights of access to justice , when the Supreme Court dismissed Karua’s appeal against the High Court’s decision ,on grounds that its time to hear the case had lapsed.
Martha Karua had moved to the East African Regional Court of Justice in Arusha, Tanzania , to sue the government after she lost her case at the Supreme Court in 2019 .
This came after her petition was first thrown out by the High Court in Kerugoya with claims that Martha Karua had no evidence to back her claims.
Speaking at that time ” I’m filling this suit for the wrongs committed to me by the Judicial arm of the government, arising from the decision of the supreme court on August 7, when my election petition was dismissed” said Karua.
Martha Karua had reported cases of bribery in Kirinyaga polling stations arguing that it affected the outcome of the gubernatorial seat.
The compensation is set to attract a simple interest of 6 per cent from the date of the judgment until full payment.
