According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the areas affected are in Turkana North, West and Central/CFM NEWS
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 8 – Voting finally kicked off in some parts of Turkana County after hours of delay due to adverse weather conditions.
According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the areas affected are in Turkana North, West and Central.
In the second press briefing at the Bomas of Kenya, the electoral Body’s Chairman Wafula Chebukati however said voting was going on well in the other centres.
“As stated in our earlier update, a number of polling stations were not open due to adverse weather conditions and associated logistical challenges. Weather conditions affected four areas,” he said.
“Turkana North, four polling stations, Turkana Central four polling stations are affected, Turkana West two polling stations and loima, eight polling stations. Those are as a result of adverse weather conditions,” he stated.
Chebukati stated that voters in areas having delays would get additional time to vote.
“We wish to assure you all that for the polling stations that opened late, and those that are about to open, we will compensate the time by extending the voting period by the same amount of hours that were lost before opening,” he stated.
He pointed out that in some areas, the identification took longer than expected and some officers had challenges switching on the KIEMS equipment.
The electoral body earlier replaced Returning Officers in Embakasi East, Kasarani and Westlands over delayed voting.
Speaking during the first press briefing at the Bomas of Kenya, Chebukati stated that IEBC Commissioners had been dispatched to the affected centres.
Wafula also assured that provisions had been put in place to ensure the delay did not affect voting.
Earlier, in some polling stations, there had been some delays with voters complaining that they were yet to start voting even after arriving at 3am.
At about 9am, voting was yet to start at Rabuor Primary school in Nyando constituency following the breakdown of the electronic voter identification system.
In Donholm here in Nairobi, voters expressed their frustration following the delay of the voting.
Voting in several polling stations in Nyali, Mombasa was delayed for about 30 minutes.
Stations were opened early, but due to poor lighting, confusion in voter register, streams and stand-off between party agents voters could not cast ballots on time.
The stations included Kongowea, Maweni, Tumaini and Ziwa la Ngombe primary schools.
Poor voter turnout was recorded in Kitui County, with leaders urging the electorate to show up for the exercise.
Most stations were opened as early as 6am with all systems set by short queues of people.
Kitui gubernatorial candidate Charity Ngilu voted at 8.45am at Ithookwe Primary in Kitui Central where she pleaded with her followers to turn out in large numbers, expressing disappointed with low voter turnout.
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