The Nation (Nairobi)
4 November 2009
Nairobi — Trade assistant minister Omingo Magara on Wednesday extended his lead to 7,916 votes in the recount and scrutiny of votes from his South Mugirango constituency.
Some 94 of the 114 ballot boxes have been scrutinised. Mr Ibrahim Ochoi had 4,675 votes while the petitioner, Mr Manson Oyongo, had 4,567 votes.
A ballot box from Ebunga polling station had no lid and was found not to contain any materials from the last General Election.
Partially used presidential booklets were found in a box from Maroo polling station
Mr Oyongo is challenging the election of Mr Magara, citing massive irregularities.
Mr Ombati Omwanza, the lawyer for the petitioner, observed that results for some candidates did not tally in forms 16A or 17A.
He noted that Mr Aungo Justus, Mr Naftal Mayoyo, Mr Nyamweya Abenayo, and Mr Nyokangi James had eight, six, 56, and two votes respectively in form 16A while form 17A showed that they had three, two, 24, and 147.
The lawyer further observed that the marked voter register extracted from the ballot box from Maroo had 428 marked names but form 17A had 547.
Mr Katwa Kigen, representing Mr Magara agreed, but observed that results from Maroo and the adjacent Engoo polling stations were inter-changed.
Mr Magara's petition is the second before Mr Justice Daniel Musinga. The first nullified the election of Mr Joel Onyancha as MP for Bomachoge. He lost to Mr Simon Ogari in the subsequent by-election. The recount continues.
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