Rurii residents decry intimidation as they cast vote

A woman casts her vote at Rurii Youth Polytechnic in Nyandarua County during the Rurii ward by-election. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Residents of Rurii ward in Nyandarua County are currently casting their votes amid claims of police intimidation.

Residents have accused police of erecting roadblocks and barring them from accessing voting areas.

"We have seen roadblocks everywhere and that is why we think people are shying away from voting. Only a few people have voted so far" complained MP Faith Gitau.

She wondered why police were vetting residents on every entry point to the ward.

Three candidates are vying for the seat, including Muraya Githaiga (UDA) Peter Thinji (Jubilee) and Susan Wangeci of the New Democrats of Kenya party.

Media was barred from accessing polling centres with the returning officer Agnes Wanjiku ordering media out of the Rurii Polytechnic polling station.

The voting exercise for Rurii ward MCA started on a low key during today's by-elections for the MCA seat.

The seat fell vacant after the death of John Mburu in January this year.

At Rurii polytechnic which has over 3,000 voters, very few voters were witnessed by 8 am.