Nairobi — Education minister Prof George Saitoti was stoned and chased away from Ololaiser Secondary School after violence erupted over, alleged rigging.

Irate mob stoned the minister as he stepped out of the counting hall moments after he stormed in to protest that his agents were being intimidated by supporters of his rivals.

Police shielded Saitoti as his bodyguards shot in the air to scare the mob. Police threw teargas canisters forcing members of the public and some journalists to scamper for safety as Saitoti was whisked away.

The incident occurred moments after Saitoti's younger brother, a Leposo was beaten up at the tallying centre and a computer he was using confiscated by the public.

Trouble started at the tallying centre after some presiding officers returned unsealed ballot boxes, heightening suspicion that they could have been tampered with.

"We cannot accept this, look, the ballot boxes are opened, they are unsealed. We cannot count on this for any fairness," protested ODM parliamentary candidate, Rev Ole Sakuda.

Some of the unsealed ballot boxes were stuffed with personal effects such as lesos, sweaters and used stationery.

After examining them, an ECK official called his bosses who advised him to call off the tallying until as the electoral body decides on the next move.

Before chaos, erupted Sakuda was leading with 9,412 with the minister trailing, by 4127 votes from about 40 stations tallied.