Embu Governor Martin Wambora. [Photo/nation.co.ke]
A High Court sitting in Embu has ordered for scrutiny and recount of Embu gubernatorial votes in a section of polling station across the county.
Through his lawyer Tom Ojienda and Wilfred Nyamu, former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti filed an election petition in September 2017 to challenge the election of Governor Martin Wambora.
Wambora who vied on a Jubilee Party ticket was declared the winner in the August 8 general elections with 97,602 votes.
His closest rival, Kivuti, who vied on a Maendeleo Chap Chap party ticket, garnered had 96,670 votes.
The former senator filed an application seeking for scrutiny of election materials and recount of votes in various polling stations an application which was filled on 10th this month.
Judge William Musyoka in his ruling said that there was sufficient evidence to order for the scrutiny and recount following various malpractices that was cited by the petitioner.
Justice Musyoka ordered the court’s deputy registrar to conduct the exercise starting from January 22 to January 29, and thereafter write a report and give it back to the court on February 7 when the case will be mentioned.
The exercise will take place in all the three IEBC constituencies’ offices that Manyatta, Runyejes, and Mbeere south.
Musyoka ruled out the presence of Wambora and Kivuti in the scrutiny exercise as well as their lawyers but allowed them to send their agents who will carry out the exercise together with deputy registrar and the IEBC officials.
Kivuti welcomed the ruling, saying that he won August elections and the scrutiny will reveal all that happened in the gubernatorial elections.