There was a low voter turn out throughout the constituency/MUTHONI NJUKI
NGONG, Kenya, Sep 17 – The by-election in Kajiado North kicked off to a grindingly slow start as few voters turned up to replace long serving MP George Saitoti who died in a helicopter crash in June.
Polls opened promptly at 6am as planned by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Voters who braved the morning chill said they wanted to vote early to enable them pursue other activities later in the day.
Capital FM News caught up with Patrick Osusu, a doctor who said that he did not want to miss the chance to elect his new legislator.
Osusu who was among the first people to cast their votes said that he expected his preferred candidate to address issues of market expansion in Kiserian, the sewerage system as well as youth empowerment.
“I am happy with the way the process is going on. I never intended to miss the chance to get the right MP for our constituency. It’s one of the best elections I have witnessed,” he said in delight.
Constituency Elections Coordinator Nicholas Kipkorir who spoke to Capital FM News at the Lemelero Water Project polling station said that the process had not experienced hitches and had started as planned.
“We do not have problems with our register at the moment. Security is very tight and everything is going on fine. All we expect is an improved turnout as we proceed,” he said.
Moses ole Sakuda of TNA voted at the Kimuka polling station shortly before midday.
Peter ole Mositet of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) voted at the Lemelero Water Project polling station at 9am where he expressed confidence in emerging winner in the by-election.
Mositet who was accompanied by some of his supporters however faulted the setting of the date for the by-election saying it was likely to attract low voter turnout.
“I am happy with the way the process is going on. I never intended to miss the chance to get the right MP for our constituency. It’s one of the best elections I have witnessed,” he said in delight.
“We have no chaos and we believe that we will win. My only appeal is that next time there is a by-election it should be on a weekend or the day be made a holiday so that more people can vote,” he said.
Sakuda on his part alleged that a section of the presiding officers were not handling the process well.
The applicant who was accompanied by his wife Irene Njoki said there were many illiterate voters and that they should be properly aided to exercise their democratic right.
“We have received some complaints from a station called Pakasi where a voter has complained that the presiding officer who helped her vote did not mark next to the name she wanted. We have called the IEBC and told them to look at the anomaly,” he alleged.
Antony Keen of the Party of National Unity also voted at Oloosirkon Primary School and later expressed confidence of a positive result following the process he termed as “well managed.”
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