Why judge who annulled Babu Owino's victory was once chased from work

juma chrispinus

March 2, 2018 2:46 PM

Babu Owino's victory was quashed on Friday.

High Court Judge Joseph Kiplagat Sergon, who on Friday March 2, 2018 annulled the election of Babu Owino was once found unsuitable to serve in the Judiciary by the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Board in 2013.

The judge, however, through an appeal he filled, found his way back to work after the Board’s decision to send him home on grounds that he had received bribes while on duty were dismissed. Justice Sergon was accused of taking bribe and also not remitting money to his client.

ALSO READ: Why Babu Owino has lost his seat

The Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Board, which constituted Justices Fedrick Chomba, Abdirashid Abdulahi and Roselyn Odede, declared Mr Sergon unsuitable on accusations of corruption.

The judge would later appeal, and was awarded his job back, citing errors and omissions by the board in axing him.

“The board having heard the application finds that the judge has established that there were serious errors manifest on the face of the record that led to a finding of unsuitability,” the board said in its decision dated May 30, 2013.

It was would later emerge that Justice Sergon was transferred to Kericho to serve as resident judge and then back to Nairobi’s Milimani Law Courts, where he has handled the petition leading to the nullification of Embakasi East parliamentary seat.

Jubilee aspirant in the August 8, 2017 elections, Mr Francis Mureithi, petitioned Paul Ongili, alias Babu Owino, on grounds of arrogance at polling station, leading to a compromised electoral process. The petitioner’s pleadings were later ranted in Friday, March 2, 2018.

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