Court orders safe custody for Kisumu poll materials

A combined picture of Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o (left) and his predecessor Jack Ranguma. A petition filed by Mr Ranguma challenging Prof Nyong'o's win will be mention on October 17. PHOTOS | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Ranguma was seeking to have the electoral commission furnish him with crucial documents.
  • Justice Majanja however said further orders will be granted on October 17.

Kisumu High Court has directed the electoral agency to secure gubernatorial election materials in a case where former Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma is contesting Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o win.

Judge Justice David Majanja on Wednesday directed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to coordinate with the petitioner and other parties in the case to agree on how the election materials for Kisumu governorship race will be secured.

Mr Majanja also ordered the parties to decide on how they will access the electronic materials needed in the case.

“Parties must sit, discuss and agree on how the election materials including the important forms are to be in safe custody during the case,” said Justice Majanja.

WITNESSES

The parties are also to agree on a list of witnesses for both Prof Nyong’o and IEBC.

Mr Ranguma was seeking to have the electoral commission furnish him with crucial documents, which he said may strengthen his case.

Through his lawyer Richard Onsongo, Mr Ranguma wanted IEBC to avail all the elections materials, including but not limited to ballots papers used and unused, the voter registers and others.

Also demanded by Mr Ranguma was Kenya Integrated Electoral Management System (KIEMS) logins

“Through this we will know the total number of people who turned up to vote and whether all of those who turned up were accounted for,” said Mr Onsongo.

He also asked for copies of all statutory forms so that they can see how they were completed, who signed them amongst others.

ADDUCED

Justice Majanja however said further orders will be granted on October 17 based on evidence adduced.

Mr Ranguma filed the petition contesting the election of Prof Nyong’o as Kisumu Governor.

The respondents in the case are IEBC, Governor Nyong'o and the Kisumu County Returning Officer John Cox Lorionokou.

Mr Ranguma who has accused IEBC of mismanaging the August 8 polls, wants Prof Nyong’o’s win nullified arguing that the announcement and declaration was erroneous.

"We also want a recount and audit of voters [after which] Ranguma would be found to have been properly elected," said Mr Onsongo.