Supreme Court Orders Recount in These 14 Polling Stations

Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu and Chief Justice Martha Koome during the pre-trial hearing on Tuesday August 30, 2022.
Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu and Chief Justice Martha Koome during the pre-trial hearing on Tuesday, August 30, 2022.
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Zakheem Rajan

The Supreme Court issued a ruling ordering the recount of ballots in 14 polling stations.

In the ruling, the SCOK noted that ballot boxes for 14 polling stations will be opened for inspection and recount, within 48 hours.

IEBC was given from 2 pm on Tuesday, August 30 to 2 pm Thursday, September 1, 2022, to ensure the exercise is finalized.

Supreme Court justices during the pre-trial conference of the presidential election petition on August 30, 2022.
Supreme Court justices during the pre-trial conference of the presidential election petition on August 30, 2022.
Courtesy Judiciary

Further, the SCOK directed the IEBC to deliver to the Court and parties all ballot boxes for inspection, scrutiny and recount in the 14 polling stations.

These polling stations include Nandi Hills and Sinendeti Primary School in Nandi, Belgut, Kapsuser and Chepkutum Primary Schools in Kericho County; Jomvi, Mikindani and Ministry of Water Tanks Polling Stations in Mombasa County.

Others are Mvita, Majengo and Mvita Primary Schools in Mombasa County; Tinderet CONMO, in Nandi County; Jarok, Gathanji and Kiheo Primary School Polling in Nyandarua County.

"That the IEBC does deliver all ballot boxes in Bomet, Nandi, Kiambu, Kericho, Kirinyaga and Nyeri counties for inspection, scrutiny, recount and such terms as it deems fit," the scrutiny read.

"Each Party shall be represented by two agents during the exercises above and they shall at times be under the supervision of the Registrar of the court and her staff. The Registrar shall file her report by 5 pm on 1st September 2022 and avail copies to all parties."

SCOK was responding to a Notice of Motion by Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua, which challenges the win by President-elect William Ruto.

The apex court ordered the IEBC to deliver to the Court the following documents for inspection: all physical and digital(public portal) forms 34B in respect of the two hundred and ninety Constituencies.

Further, the IEBC was asked to provide all Forms 32A used in the election to authorize manual identification of voters.

The electoral commission was also asked to deliver the full KPMG Report on the Register of Voters, a full audit report on the technology used and the Report of the vendor, due diligence, and technology used in the General Election on 9th August 2022.

It was also directed to deliver the error forms signed by the Chairperson of IEBC during the tally and verification exercise at the National Tallying Centre between August 10 to 15 2022 as well as the copies of polling station diaries from Kiambu.

The IEBC was further directed to deliver its Election technology system redundancy plan comprising the business continuity plan and disaster recovery plan.

Supreme Court justices during the pre-trial conference of the presidential election petition on August 30, 2022.
Supreme Court justices during the pre-trial conference of the presidential election petition on August 30, 2022.
Courtesy Judiciary