Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho on Tuesday suffered a major blow after he lost the first round of a court petition which has challenged his election.
Joho had pleaded with the Mombasa High Court to strike out the election filed by former Senator Hassan Omar.
The Mombasa Governor had told judge Lydia Awino Achode that Omar’s failure to enjoin the deputy governor was grounds enough to strike out the petition.
The judge ruled that the omission of the deputy governor was not significant in the case.
Omar, who emerged third in the August 7 gubernatorial race, wants the High Court to nullify Joho’s election which he claims was marred with irregularities.