Vote recount in 41 polling stations reveals missing, blank Form 34As
The scrutiny of ballot boxes of 41 polling stations yesterday revealed some discrepancies in Form 34A with one polling station in Majengo Primary School in Mvita, Mombasa missing Form 34A in the ballot box.
The exercise that kicked off at 10.30am and which was being undertaken under the supervision of IEBC and the Supreme Court Registrar also revealed Form 34A in Majengo Primary School Polling station 2 was left blank by the Presiding and Deputy Presiding officers.
During the vote recount, it was revealed that President-Elect William Ruto got 96 votes while Azimio-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila got 76 in Station One of Majengo Primary School where the Form 34A was missing. In station Two, Raila got 139 votes while Ruto got 83 votes.
Standoff
Earlier, there was a standoff as parties could not agree how to conduct the recount which was ordered by the Supreme Court.
The judges had to clarify the order issued regarding the scrutiny of the ballot boxes. Justice Isaac Lenaola, who read the ruling, said the scrutiny of ballot boxes was only for 41 polling stations.
Three petitioners wanted to be allowed to scrutinise ballot papers from a different number of polling stations. Otieno Ogolla wanted to be allowed scrutiny in 229 polling stations, Njoki Mboche 238 stations and the First Petitioner (Raila Odinga and Martha Karua) asked for 517 stations which was impossible.
“There are only 48 hours to scrutinise the 15 polling stations that were indicated by the court. We thought that the order is specific to contested polling stations,” he said.
In the order, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission was to give certified copies of forms specific to 15 polling stations.
At the time of going to press, only 15 ballot boxes had been scrutinised.
