A returning officer on Tuesday said a lawyer in the Kitutu Masaba election petition pleaded with him to disown his 2007 report which alleged bribery in the polls.

Mr Lawrence Ole Sempele, who was the returning officer in the constituency, told judge Milton Makhandia that MP Walter Nyambati’s lawyer Osoro Mogikoyo had on two occasions told him they depended on him and he should disown the report.

In his report, Mr Sempele said some candidates, including Mr Nyambati, Mr Mose Nyambega and Mr Samson Okioma were dishing money to the voters.

“My lord if the counsel knew that it was not a credible report why did he ask me to disown it,” asked Mr Sempele. Mr Sempele said he was promoted to a district elections coordinator on the basis of the candid report. 

Mr Mogikoyo had said Mr Sempele could not be trusted and was a busybody who was trying to disturb the peace of the people of Kitutu Masaba.

Respondents

Mr Justus Omiti has challenged Mr Nyambati’s election and also named Mr Sempele and IIEC as respondents. It further said that most presiding officers were irresponsible, careless and exhausted and hence did not discharge their duties as required.