The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) acting Director Voter Registration and Electoral Operations, Moses Ledama Sunkuli, explained why the total valid votes for the presidential contest differed from those of gubernatorial as well as Woman Representative posts.In an affidavit presented to the Supreme Court on Sunday, August 28, Sunkuli argued that the final tallies were affected by violence as well as ballots from the prisons and Diaspora.In the gubernatorial comparison, a total of 14,213,137 votes were cast for the presidential candidates while only 13,347,058 votes were cast to elect governors across the 45 counties.In his explanation, Sunkuli noted that the numbers differed due to a postponement of the polls in Mombasa and Kakamega counties.He also noted that the final tally included ballots from 17,926 registered voters from prisons and Diaspora who participated in presidential election only.”Nairobi county governor had 7 polling stations in Mathare and Starehe constituencies which did not report any result as the Form 37As (County Governor Election Results at the Polling Station) were locked in the ballot boxes and refusal of agents to open the said ballot boxes.”Narok County – Stations in Narok South and Emurua Dikirr Constituencies – Results were not included in the Tally (Governor – Olontare Primary School – 299 voters, Soimingin Primary School – 653 voters and Ole Nkanai Primary School – 680 voters) (C) due to violence,” read the affidavit in part.In the Woman Representative comparison, 14,213,137 valid votes were cast for presidential contenders against 13,791,624 that were cast to elect Woman Representatives in 46 counties.In his affidavit, Sunkuli explained that the figures differed due to lack of polls for the Kericho Woman Representative position who was elected unopposed.”Kericho County Woman Member to the National Assembly was unopposed. Where a candidate was confirmed as unopposed, the Commission did not print ballot papers,” read the affidavit in part.The numbers were also affected by Diaspora and Prison voters totaling to 17,926 registered voters who participated in the presidential election only alongside violence tendencies.”Nairobi County Woman Member to the National Assembly had 7 polling stations in Mathare and Starehe Constituencies which did report any results as Form 39A (County woman Representative to the National Assembly election result at the Polling Station) s were locked in Ballot boxes and agents refused to open the said ballot boxes.”Narok County – Stations in Narok South and Emurua Dikirr Constituencies – Results for Ole Nkanai Primary School was not included in the tallying of the County Woman Member of the National Assembly due to violence,” added the affidavit.Sunkuli filed the affidavit as a response to a petition by Azimio la Umoja presidential contender, Raila Odinga, and his running mate, Martha Karua, who accused the IEBC of manipulating poll results.Raila is seeking to either be declared the president-elect or have the Supreme Court order a run-off.
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