Ballot boxes during the August 8 polls. [Photo/KBC]
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has been ordered to recount votes from all polling stations in Homa Bay county.A High Court sitting presided over by Justice Joseph Karanja ordered the elections agency to secure ballot boxes from the polling stations to avoid ballot stuffing.The orders were given in an election petition filed by former Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga challenging the election of Homa Bay governor Cyprian Awiti on August 8.IEBC was also ordered to study forms 37A, 37B and 37C that were used to declare the winner.Karanja further ordered directed IEBC to scrutinize and audit the Kenya Integrated Management Systems (KIEMS).Through lawyer Fredrick Orego, IEBC stated that it will cooperate with the court orders.IEBC, Awiti, his deputy Hamilton Orata and Homa Bay Returning Officer Michael Kosgei are the respondents in the case. In his affidavit, the petitioner asked the court to declare Awiti's election null and void.Awiti an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate garnered 210,173 votes against Magwanga's 189,016 votes.