Chief Justice Martha Koome has appointed Justice Richard Mwongo to hear the ongoing petition challenging Mbeere North MP Leo Wa Muthende's by-election victory, amid claims of voter registration irregularities including an unreflected name change. The case will proceed at Embu High Court.
Chief Justice Martha Koome issued a gazette notice on January 2, 2026, directing that the Mbeere North Constituency election petition be heard in the designated Election Court, with Justice Richard Mwongo presiding at the Embu High Court.
The petition, filed on December 4, 2025, by voters Julieta Karigi and Patrick Gitonga, challenges United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Leo Wa Muthende's win in the November 27, 2025, by-election. Petitioners allege that Wa Muthende's name change from Leonard Muriuki Njeru to Leo Wa Muthende Njeru prior to the polls was not updated in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) voter register, rendering him ineligible as he was purportedly not a registered voter at the time.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has defended the results, arguing the name discrepancy had no impact. If successful, the petition could nullify the results and trigger a fresh by-election, underscoring continued scrutiny of the UDA-backed victory.
