The Star (Nairobi)

Kenya: Mismatch of Numbers Delay Poll Results

Photo: Judiciary
Supreme court judges (file photo): CORD presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, has moved to court to challenge the March 4 poll results.

FRESH queries over vote numbers might further delay the announcement of the result of the presidential elections.

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy yesterday protested over discrepancies between the presidential tallies announced by the IEBC and those displayed on the screens.

Cord also lodged a complaint with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission over an alleged failure to include their votes from 11 constituencies.

Assistant minister John Mbadi took the complaint to IEBC yesterday morning, claiming that some figures read out by the commissioners on Thursday night were not reflected in the final tally.

Raila was leading in all the 11 constituencies of Kitui South, Kabuchai, Changamwe, Kanduyi, Homa Bay, Ganze, Vihiga, Khamisi, Magarini, Mumias East and Kitutu Chache constituencies.

The results were read by commissioners Muthoni Wangai, Kule Galma Godana and Mohammed Alawi.

In total, Raila garnered 281,611 votes from the 11 constituencies against Uhuru's 20,216.

Former Muhoroni MP Ayiecho Olweny confronted the IEBC over discrepancies which at one point amounted to 334,894 votes.

The discrepancy arose after adding the votes for each candidate from 226 of the 291 constituencies. From 226 constituencies, the total came to 9,388,485 votes which should be equivalent to the total valid votes cast.

However, the number of total valid votes shown on the screen by IEBC was 9,723,379, a difference of 334,894.

Cord was also concerned that the total votes cast in 226 constituencies were 9,816,429 while the total rejected votes stood at 94,020.

However, the total valid votes cast, as displayed on the screen, was 9,723,379 instead of 9,722,409, giving rise to 970 votes that were inexplicably included.

After 234 constituencies, the screen had an extra 23,660 votes above the 10,004,557 total valid votes cast.

"When I look at the screen, there are some 23,660 extra valid votes. It suggests that what you are giving to the nation is wrong," Ayiecho said.

Chief Electoral Officer James Oswago acknowledged that "there could be a disconnect between the results announced and those being keyed in."

"There could be something that was not done well but give us a chance to rectify it. We have stopped the process briefly to reconcile the figures. But if you want to take the matter further (to the courts) you are free to do so," he said.

IEBC chairman Issack Hassan said "there could have been some errors during data entry which could be easily rectified. We have had to moderate between speed and accuracy. But we want to assure you that the results we are releasing are credible and the chief agents and the presidential agents have a direct access to the chairman for any clarification," Hassan said.

The IEBC and party agents met over the discrepancies yesterday afternoon as Oswago announced that there were only 30 returning officers whose filings remained to be verified. Oswago said the IEBC still hoped to release the full results of the presidential election yesterday evening.

With votes from 239 constituencies tallied, Jubilee's Uhuru Kenyatta was still leading by 5,159,344 (49.9 per cent) to Raila's 4,516,660 (43.69 per cent).

Meanwhile, Oswago yesterday allayed rumours of his alleged detention when he did not appear with the chairman and commissioners during Thursday evening's media briefing.

"Part of the reason I am here is to explain that I am neither in prison or dead. This is a difficult process given that we are undergoing it for the first time," Oswago said.

Hassan assured the country that the IEBC was working in harmony to ensure that it delivers on its constitutional mandate.

"As you can see we are here together. We don't know how the elections will pan out. But I want to assure Kenyans that we shall respect the rule of law," he said.

Social media had been abuzz over the IEBC secretary's whereabouts ahead of the declaration of the final result of the presidential elections.

Vice President and CORD running mate Kalonzo Musyoka was the first to claim that there was discord within the IEBC over alleged doctoring of results.

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