Four polling station staff were on Wednesday charged before Shanzu law courts for various election offenses.
Presiding officer, Nicholas Nyamuya Mutesi and his deputy, Sawiya Mutaji Kirinda were charged with willful refusal to count ballot papers cast in favour of MP, Senator and Woman Representative positions in Kisauni constituency.
They allegedly committed the offence at Utange primary school polling station in Kisauni constituency within Mombasa County.
They pleaded not guilty before Shanzu Principal Magistrate Yusuf Shikanda and were each released on a bond of Sh500, 000 with an alternative cash bail of Sh300, 000.
Separately, a presiding officer and a polling clerk were charged with issuance of extra ballot papers for Kilifi County woman representative elections.
Anwar Kai Samson, Mtomondoni primary school, stream 8 polling station, presiding officer was charged alongside a polling clerk, Dorine Mwinzi Mwanyola.
The charge sheet stated that Kai and Mwanyola being presiding officer and polling clerk respectively, allegedly issued extra ballot papers for Kilifi County woman representative position contrary to elections laws.
Kai also faced an alternative count of failing to prevent an electoral malpractice.
They both denied the charges and were each released on a bond of Sh500, 000 or a cash bail of Sh300, 000.
The court directed that both cases be mentioned on 13th of this month for further direction.
Meanwhile, verification and tallying of votes for different elective positions are ongoing at Kisauni constituency tallying centre at Shanzu Teachers Training College.
The returning officer Ibrahim Wario said they are expecting ballot materials from three polling stations including Marimani primary school stream one and two and Mwakirunge primary school polling station.
Wario told reporters that he estimates the verification and tallying exercise to go on past midnight.
By Galgalo Bocha
