NAIROBI, Kenya Dec 14 – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has warned voters in five by-elections set for Tuesday that they will not be allowed at polling stations without facemasks.
Commissioner Boya Molu said the protocols that entail the use of face masks, social distancing, disinfecting surfaces among others must be adhered to in all polling stations to curb the spread of COVID-19.
He said the COVID-19 protocols were developed in consultation with the Ministry of Health and had been circulated to all election officials for strict compliance.
“We shall have an officer who shall have a thermo-gun to check the temperature, we have water and sanitizers at every polling station, and gloves and masks for all our officials. So we are asking the public to strictly comply with these requirements,” he said.
This comes a month after President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a “No mask, No service” public sensitization campaign to encourage adherence to COVID-19 containment measures.
The by-elections will be held in Msambweni constituency, new MCAs in Kahawa-Wendani in Kiambu County, Kisumu North in Kisumu and Lake view in Nakuru County, Dabaso in Kilifi County and Wundanyi/Mbale wards in Taita Taveta County.
Msambweni Returning Officer Yusuf Abubakar Mohamed said there were no major incidents reported during the two-month for campaigns and expressed optimism of an incident-free election.
“Voters are expected to come to the polling stations masked. We are trying our bit as a Commission to contain the spread of Coronavirus,” Abubakar said.
He said 60 polling centres with a total of 129 stations across the constituency had been fumigated as part of the COVID-19 containment measures.
MSAMBWENI
The Msambweni seat fell vacant following the death of ODM legislator Suleiman Dori in March 2020.
Key candidates in the by-election are Wiper Democratic Movement’s Sheikh Abdurahman Mahmoud, Omar Boga of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Deputy President William Ruto’s ally Feisal Bader.
The other candidates are Marere Wamwachai of The National Vision Party, Hassan Mwakulonda of Party of Economic Democracy and independent candidates Charles Bilali and Mansour Kumaka.
The candidates are scrambling for the 68,621 registered voters in Gombato/Bongwe, Ukunda, Kinondo and Ramisi Wards.
KISUMU NORTH WARD
Meanwhile Returning Officers who will be overseeing the mini-polls confirmed that preparations were complete as the Commission finalised the dispatch of voting materials to the various polling stations.
Kisumu North Ward Returning Officer Dennis Omare announced adequate security within the polling stations and outside to ensure peace prevails during the exercise.
“We have organised with the security teams so that they can be going around conducting patrols. They will be checking on any kind of mischief,” Omare told a news briefing Monday ahead of the polls.
The Kisumu North Ward seat fell vacant when the MCA Elisha Oraro was elected Kisumu Count Assembly Speaker.
The Commission cleared nine candidates to contest the ward representative’s seat, with three candidates vying on independent tickets while the rest are sponsored by various parties.
DABOS
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