A petitioner has rejected the results of the recount of votes for South Mugirango constituency.Mr Manson Nyamweya Oyongo claimed that an elaborate plan was put in place to conceal rigging during the 2007 election.

The petitioner, who is contesting the election of assistant minister Omingo Magara, said some boxes were interfered with and some documents were missing. Responding to questions by Mr Katwa Kigen, the lawyer for Mr Magara, he insisted that although the tallied votes reflected the results announced after the elections, the rigging was “cleverly done”.

“My Lord, most polling stations had no Form 16A, marked voters registers, counterfoils, and other documents to compare the tally with the actual voters. How do you rely on this,”  Mr Oyongo asked.

The proceedings resumed Wednesday in a Kisii court after two weeks of recounting the votes and scrutiny of materials. Mr Oyongo claimed that Mr Magara’s relatives were employed to oversee the poll in order to manipulate the results. Mr Justice Daniel Musinga asked Mr Oyongo to explain how the relatives assisted Mr Magara to win.

To which the petitioner claimed that they either spoiled or manipulated votes cast in his and other candidates’ favour.“How do I know that the people you’re talking about are Mr Magara’s relatives?” the judge asked. Mr Oyongo said they were related to Mr Magara’s mother. The hearing continues.