High Court Grants the Equitable Party Prayers to Suspend Gazette Notice of Metkei Ward MCA-Elect
Addressing the press in Vihiga, TEP party leader Dr. Gilbert Shanga, popularly known as Bonny, accused the IEBC of bending the law for a rival party.
In its case, the party argues that Mengich was properly nominated in accordance with Section 13 of the Elections Act and his name submitted to IEBC’s portal in fulfillment of all the requirements. Photo/courtesy.
By Mercy Chelangat
On November 4, 2025, the High Court in Eldoret granted The Equitable Party prayers for a temporary suspension of the gazette notice declaring Philip Kipruto as the MCA-elect for Metkei Ward in Elgeyo Marakwet County and stopped his swearing-in until the case is fully heard.
Giving the order, Eldoret High Court Judge Emily Ominde referred the case to Justice Reuben Nyakundi and observed that her court had already handled a similar case relating to the election of the Speaker of the Elgeyo Marakwet County Assembly.
The Equitable Party had moved the court to challenge the withdrawal of its candidate, Edward Kiplimo Mengich, arguing IEBC had unlawfully removed his name after the expiry of the nomination period. In its case, the party argues that Mengich was properly nominated in accordance with Section 13 of the Elections Act and his name submitted to IEBC’s portal in fulfillment of all the requirements.
During a news conference in Vihiga, TEP party leader Dr. Gilbert Shanga, popularly known as Bonny, accused the IEBC of bending the law for a rival party. “The IEBC irregularly accepted a belated resignation made long after the lawful nomination window had closed and treated it as effective nullification of our candidate outside the confines of the law,” he said. Dr. Shanga said the party’s candidate had been coerced and bribed to withdraw from the contest when he emerged first in Metkei. “Threats to his safety were made and through political coercion, he was enticed with money and a rented apartment in Nairobi to vacate Metkei Ward and abandon his campaign,” he said, alleging that Mengich was offered KSh 500,000 and a six-month apartment lease. TEP filed a petition at the High Court in Eldoret on October 27, 2025, against the decision of IEBC. But this did not stop the IEBC from publishing Gazette Notice No. 15732 on 29th October declaring a no-contest for the MCA seat. “The case is not about one ward; it is a litmus test for the whole country. It is our democracy on trial,” Dr. Shanga said, calling on the Speaker and Clerk of the Elgeyo Marakwet County Assembly to respect court orders. He called on IEBC to be independent, saying, “Kenya does not belong to one party or one community. It belongs to all of us.”
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