A recount of votes cast in South Mugirango in the last General Election on Wednesday unearthed several anomalies.

In the ballot boxes from Nyabiosi Primary School polling station, the results of four out of the 17 candidates who contested the seat were missing.

Some votes for Mr David Ondimu Kombo, an ODM-K candidate, were found in the bundle containing ballots for Mr Omingo Magara. Some forms 16A and the marked copy register from the polling centre were missing.

Returning officer Joseph Sanganyi Omambia found himself in an awkward position when he failed to explain why some ballot papers had no Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) stamp.

Gucha elections coordinator Astalico Atika came to his defence, saying the unstamped papers did not originate from the ECK.

The exercise, which was conducted in the presence of Mr Justice Daniel Musinga and deputy registrar Godffrey Oduor, found that three votes that were marked as rejected were actually valid.

Some forms 16A supplied by the ECK showed the results of 13 candidates but were not signed by neither the presiding officers nor the candidates' agents.

The court allowed an application by Mr Katwa Kigen, representing Mr Manson Oyongo Nyamweya, who is challenging the election of assistant minister Magara.

He wanted the 144 ballot boxes opened and the ballot papers scrutinised. The counting continues on Friday.