Former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara on Monday claimed the by-election in the constituency was being rigged in advance because some voters names were missing from the register.

Mr Magara said he could not understand how names of people who took part in the last General Election would miss from the list.

At the same time, the former MP asked why people who had acquired identity cards after the 2007 election were being barred from registering.

Speaking at Orwaki primary school in the constituency, where he registered as a voter, Mr Magara asked the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) to address the issue urgently.

Voter turnout

Mr Magara attributed low voter turnout in some registration centres to lack of sensitisation by IIEC saying unless they set funds aside for publicity, the commission would not hit its target of 10 million voters.

Mr Magara warned two politicians from the region to stop meddling and allow South Mugirango people to make their independent decision.

“I don’t understand why the two are wasting their energy meddling with South Mugirango affairs. They should channel the energies in assisting people in their constituencies,” he said.