Speaking in Embakasi where he had gone to inspect the exercise on Friday morning, Chebukati stated that voting is a democratic right which should not be taken for granted/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 5 – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chabukati is urging Kenyans in Embakasi South, Ugenya constituencies and Lelani Ward in Elgeyo Marakwet to turn up in large numbers and vote in the by-elections currently underway.
Speaking in Embakasi where he had gone to inspect the exercise on Friday morning, Chebukati stated that voting is a democratic right which should not be taken for granted.
“We have gone around a few of the polling rooms and everybody is up and running. I am happy to see Kenyans turning up to exercise their democratic rights,” he said.
He lauded the peaceful manner in which the voting is going on and expressed optimism that the process will end successfully.
“We are here at Embakasi South where all polling stations opened a 6.00am in the morning and the reports we have is that voting is going on very well and peacefully,” he stated.
Voters in the on-going Embakasi South By-Elections expressed confidence that the process which kicked off Friday morning will produce credible result.
A section of the voters who turned up as early as 5am described the exercise as seamless.
The voters will be picking who among 15 candidates cleared by the electoral agency will represent them in the National Assembly.
This is after the parliamentary seat that fell vacant in December last year after a successful petition filed by ODM’s Irshad Sumra challenging Julius Mawathe’s win during the 2017 General Elections.
In Ugenya, long queues were seen at Sega Township primary school polling station.
Urenga, Nyaudenge, Udira Kamrembo polling stations had similar queues as voters braved the chilly morning to be the first to vote.
The first voters to cast are confident of their candidates winning.
The The Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kit in one of the polling streams at Sega Township failed to work leaving voters disgruntled after waking up early to vote.
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