A court has ordered a recount of votes in the Embu governor election due to inflation, swapping, doctoring, and stealing.
Justice William Musyoka issued the ruling on Thursday while hearing the petition former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti filed against governor Martin Wambora.
"There was evidence to the effect that votes of various candidates across the board were exaggerated," he said regarding the August 8 vote.
Musyoka further said parties presented evidence that results were swapped and that submitted records differed from what was entered on forms.
The judge further said witnesses gave reports that candidates were either given more votes than they got or
less than their actual numbers.
He said votes were either added or deducted from both Kivuti and Wambora's shares.
"In the end, the margin of votes declared and what parties submitted in evidence declined from 985 to 299," he said.
“There shall be partial scrutiny of votes limited to recount, and ascertainment of the number of votes each candidate garnered in Mbeere South, Runyenjes and Manyatta constituencies, at the specific polling stations which the petitioner disputed”.
Former Embu senator Lenny Kivuti's supporters celebrate after a court ordered the recount of votes in the election of governor Martin Wambora, January 18, 2018. /Reuben Githinji
Musyoka further ordered partial scrutiny of forms 37A and B from specified polling stations in Mbeere South, Runyenjes and Manyatta constituencies, according to complaints by the petitioner.
The judge said there wasn't sufficient evidence to warrant scrutiny of the KIEMS as Kivuti requested.
He instructed that the exercise be carried out from January 22 until February 2 under the supervision of the Embu Courts deputy registrar.
The parties will each be represented by two agents.
Musyoka directed that Wambora, Kivuti, the IEBC and deputy governor David Kariuki, who are all parties in the matter, be allowed in the halls alongside their advocates.
He directed the court registrar to write a report on his findings and present it to the court, and the parties to return on February 7.
The case will be mentioned and further directions given.
Kivuti’s supporters - some in Maendeleo Chap Chap caps and T-shirts - started cerebrating before the ruling, forcing the judge to order them to keep quiet.
After the judgment, they went to the roads singing "Si uchawi, ni maombi (it’s not witchcraft, it is prayers)".