Voting in Kericho, Malindi underway amid bribery accusations

A voter casts his vote at Highlands Primary polling station in Kericho town at 6am. (Photo: Kipsang Joseph/Standard)

Kenya: Residents of Kericho County and Malindi Constituency today vote to elect new leaders who will represent them in the Senate and National Assembly respectively.

Poll stations opened at 6am but a low voter turnout was witnessed in both areas in the morning hours.   

In Kericho, Kanu candidate Paul Sang cast his vote at Kamanamsin Primary School Polling Station.

Sang complained that party agents were turned away at seven polling stations in Belgut and in two stations in Kipkelion East.

He urged Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to immediately address incidences where six voters were turned away in Kabartegan polling station and warned Jubilee against any attempts to rig in the by-election.

In Malindi, CORD leader Raila Odinga condemned an incident where ODM official was arrested, terming it harassment.

“We are concerned at the campaign of black mail and arm-twisting that Jubee is adopting in the region manifested in arbitrary arrests including that of Mr Philip Etale,” said Raila is a statement.

Another MP aligned to the Jubilee coalition, Peter Gitau (Mwea) was also arrested at Kakuyuni Primary School polling station in Malindi over claims that he was found bribing voters. Gitau was roughed up by youth and handed over to police at Malindi police station.

Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete) and Shariff Athmani (Lamu East) were also accused of electoral malpractice. At Central polling station, Waititu was attacked by women and youth who searched his pockets and forced him out of the polling centre. 

Athmani on the other hand was rescued by police from the wrath of youth at Sir Ali polling station as he tried to intervene in a fight.

-Reporting by Patrick Kibet and Bernard Sanga