Election materials were destroyed by rainwater in Kitui on Thursday after the bus they were being transported in veered off a road.
The driver of the St Mary's Secondary School Miambani bus, that was to deliver materials to polling centres around Kitui town, skidded and landed in a ditch.
Although no official was injured, voting materials were soaked in rain water.
Kitui Central traffic base commander Charles Nyaga said the items were to be taken to
Kitui Central Primary, Muslim Primary and Maendeleo ya Wanawake polling centres.
"The bus was trying to avoid crashing into an electricity post that had fallen on the road when he came across a muddy section, skidded and veered off. Runoff rainwater then swept through the bus destroying the election materials."
Voting started on a slow note
as the incident delayed the delivery of ballot
papers to some centres.
Officials delivered some materials after 9 am yet polling stations opened at 6am.
County commissioner Boaz Cherutich said seasonal rivers
especially in Kitui Central's Katulani ward and
Nzambani in Kitui East were swallowed up.
Cherutich said adequate security had been provided in all parts and that "ugly incidents" were unlikely.
"Security agents are on high alert. The good thing is that no incidents of violence have been reported."
The stream of voters was steady at most
stations in Kitui's urban areas but in rural areas, many centres remained deserted.
In some cases, only chiefs, their families and some national government officers went to votes.
Voter apathy was partly to blame amid a boycott instruction by NASA chief Raila Odinga and the queues were not as long as they were on during the national election on August 8.
Only Jubilee Party agents reported to polling stations the county led by
Charity Ngilu. The election included the other six people who vied for the top seat in August.
Related:
Also read:
