An election petition lawyer wants the court to provide him with security over alleged death threats.Mr Patrick Kerongo, who is representing Mr Justus Mong’umbu in the Kitutu Masaba petition, claimed area MP Walter Nyambati issued the threats at Nyamare Primary School.

Mr Kerongo said he would not take the threats lightly as they were meant to derail his performance.He asked the court to provide protection for Mr Mong’umbu, whom he claimed had fled his home over the threats.

“My client has informed me that he has been in hiding since he filed the petition because of the threats from the MP’s agents. He has even reported the matter to police,” he said.

Mr Nyambati’s lawyer Alphaxard Mogikoyo dismissed the allegations.

“My lord if my learned friend indeed claims that his life is in danger he would have sworn an affidavit to give the actual threats,” Mr Mogikoyo said.

He argued that the allegations were meant to sensationalise the hearing of the petition.

“My lord my learned friend knows very well that such threats are criminal but he has not reported them to the police. The allegations are baseless and have no foundation at all,” Mr Mogikoyo said.Mr Justice Milton Makhandia said the matter was criminal but the complainant had not reported to police.

He warned the parties to avoid sideshows, saying the petition would be determined by evidence not extraneous matters.“As parties you must disengage from sideshows that might delay the expeditious hearing of the petition,” he said.The case will be mentioned on Friday, when the parties will be supplied with the previous proceedings by Mr Justice Daniel Musinga who disqualified himself from hearing the petition.