Voting off to a smooth start in Kibra

The voting exercise in the Kibra by-election has taken off smoothly with polling stations opening at 6 am as scheduled.

The returning officer David Maina says voters are slowly trickling in given that Thursday is a working day.

A spot check across the stations shows queues building up.

One of the independent candidates, Shadrack Omondi has already cast his vote at Makina ward.

ODM candidate Imran Okoth, ANC candidate Eliud Owalo as well as ODM leader Raila Odinga will cast their vote later this morning at Old Kibra polling station.

The electoral body IEBC is happy with the voting process so far but warned voters, candidates and agents against wearing or carrying campaign materials.

“Voters, candidates and agents are urged to maintain order at the polling station and to avoid wearing or carrying campaign materials and to avoid campaigning while on the queue” IEBC tweeted.

A few hitches have been reported. There was drama at Mashimoni squatters in Kibra following claims of voter bribery. Police acted swiftly to contain the situation and a man allegedly involved in the vice was arrested and is in police custody.

IEBC is yet to respond to the claims. In Jamhuri voting was delayed after a KIEMS kits hitch. The issue was sorted out and voters are casting their ballots. The kits are being used to biometrically identify voters.

There are 24 candidates battling for the 118,658 votes.

Jubilee candidate McDonald Mariga, late MP Ken Okoth’s Brother Bernard ‘Imran’ Okoth contesting the seat on an Orange Democratic Movement party ticket and Eliud Owalo who will be flying the Amani national congress flag are seen as the front runners in the race.

The by-election follows the death of MP Ken Okoth after he succumbed to cancer in July.

The Kibra by-election has turned into a political contest between ODM party leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto.