KERICHO, September 25 – Vote counting in the parliamentary by-elections in Sotik and Bomet constituencies got underway shortly after 5 pm in most polling stations on Thursday after a day-long exercise, which kicked of to a slow start in the morning.
There was a relative improvement in voter turnout in the afternoon in most polling stations, and Returning Officer in Bomet Ibrahim Adan told Capital News that the winner would most likely be announced at around midnight.
Earlier in the day, the main candidates in the constituency Beatrice Kones of ODM and Nick Salat of KANU expressed content with the peaceful voting.
In the neighbouring Sotik constituency, the front-runners ODM’s Joyce Laboso and United Democratic Movement’s (UDM) Alexander Sitienei both expressed their ambitions for victory.
Polling stations in both constituencies opened promptly at 6 am Thursday, but with an equally low voter turnout. Elections were expected later on Thursday.
The two seats were left vacant following the demise of former Roads Minister Kipkalya Kones in a plane crash along with former Sotik MP Lorna Laboso in June.
Among those contesting the seats are Kones’ widow Beatrice – of the Orange Democratic Movement – and Laboso’s sister Dr Joyce Cherono in Sotik.
Beatrice Kones is facing off with one-time MP Nick Salat, while Dr Cherono is battling with former President Daniel Arap Moi’s aide de camp Alexander Sitienei who is vying for the Sotik seat on a UDM ticket.
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