Meru Senator Mithika Linturi was saved by a whisker after the High Court in Meru threw out a suit challenging his eligibility to vie in the county's gubernatorial race.

The senator who seeks to unseat incumbent Kiraitu Murungi of the Devolution Empowerment Party was cleared by the Meru County Returning officer alongside his running mate Linda Gakii to run on the United Democratic Alliance ticket on Saturday, June 4.

The suit was filed by two petitioners, Joseph Kariithi Ben and Dickson Mwenda Kithinji, who sought the disqualification of the senator and Meru Woman representative Kawira Mwangaza citing irregular academic papers.

Linturi’s lawyer asked the court on Thursday, June 4 whether it has a jurisdiction to hear the case when Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has a dispute tribunal that is mandated to hear the matter once the senator presented his academic papers on Saturday, June 4 for clearance.

"In our appeal, we are saying this is a matter that should be handled by the IEBC and not the court at this stage,” the lawyer said.

Justice Edward Muriithi on Friday, June 3 ,hence, threw out the case stating that being a pre-election dispute, it falls within the jurisdiction of the electoral commission under Article 88(4)(e) of the Constitution.

This is hence a win for the controversial lawmaker who had promised to bring change to the people of Meru that he says is desperately needed , as he claims Murungi allegedly failed to deliver his manifesto when he clinched the position.