Failed KIEMS kits, low turnout mar election day as voting closes

Voters queue at KICC polling station in Nairobi. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

Voting has officially come to a close in several polling stations across the country, save for a few.

The Standard has established that the exercise has been extended at select polling stations including at Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology, where most voters arrived some few minutes to 5.00 pm.

Voting has also been extended at the Mwiki polling station, Kasarani constituency in Nairobi County.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials and police officers at the station agreed to allow voters in, past the 5.00 pm deadline.

IEBC says early morning delays have led to the extension of the exercise.

After voting closed, long queues have also been witnessed at Ciamanda Primary School polling station in Runyenjes Constituency. The station opened at 9.00 am.

The Standard has also established that several polling stations in Runyenjes opened after 7.00 am after voting materials arrived late.

No queues were seen at closing time at polling stations within Mathare Constituency. Residents say they voted early Tuesday to go about their other businesses throughout the day.

Party agents and IEBC officials have already begun sealing ballot boxes and tallying votes.

The IEBC in a statement said that about 12 million people had cast their votes by 4.00 pm Tuesday, out of 22 million registered voters, translating to a 56.17 per cent voter turnout.

The Tuesday, August 9 election was also marked by failed KIEMs kits in some parts of the country and chaos in others.

Nakuru East MP David Gikaria was arrested on Tuesday afternoon for allegedly causing disturbance at a polling station in his constituency.

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