Cancelled Mombasa governor poll to affect turnout — Joho, Nassir

The decision by the IEBC to cancel the governor election in Mombasa will affect voter turnout in the region, county boss Hassan Joho has said.

Joho on Tuesday morning said it was expected that the decision by the IEBC to cancel Mombasa’s governor election would affect the turnout.

“For the reason that our governor candidate is not on the ballot, there are some people who will be hesitant to vote.

"However, so far we have seen people coming out and we are encouraging our supporters to come and vote,” he said.

On Monday evening, hours before Election Day, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said the gubernatorial ballot for Mombasa and Kakamega counties had the wrong names, photos and details of the candidates.

Other regions that experienced the mix-up were Kachiliba and Pokot South constituencies.

“As a result, the election for these positions have been suspended and will be announced through a gazette notice at a later date,” Chebukati said.

Joho, who voted at Uwanja wa Mbuzi in Kongowea, Nyali constituency, said they were surprised that election for governor were canceled only in Mombasa and Kakamega counties, which he said are Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga’s strongholds.

“We do not know what kind of coincidence this is. Already, speculations are too high that maybe they were trying to suppress the voter turnout, but that has not happened,” Joho said.

ODM candidate for the Mombasa governor race Abdulswamad Nassir said the decision by IEBC to cancel the Mombasa and Kakamega gubernatorial races, has to some extent affected the turnout.

“It has affected to some extent without a doubt, but we are hoping more and more people will come. We are asking the IEBC to ensure the governor election are held as soon as possible,” he said.

Nassir voted at Mvita Primary School.

Mvita constituency experienced a delay in the starting time for voting.

Voters in the six subcounties of Mombasa woke up as early as 3am on Tuesday, to go and vote. The subcounties include Mvita, Likoni, Jomvu, Changamwe, Nyali and Kisauni.

In Nyali constituency, supporters were heard blowing whistles, trumpets and vuvuzelas to wake up the masses to go and vote.

As of 9.30 am, the voting exercise had not started at Uhuru Gardens and Mvita Primary.

IEBC officials arrived at Uhuru Gardens in Mombasa town at 9.15am despite the voters saying they had arrived at the polling center by 3am.

They nonetheless braced the morning rains to wait for the exercise to start.

Voter Agnes Kamanda from Mariakani said she was there by 3am but unfortunately, the process is yet to commence.

"We were quite a number but many have left and I doubt they will come back," she said.

Kamanda, however, said she would wait until she votes, whichever time it may be.

Voter Harold Odhiambo said he is angry and disappointed by the IEBC for being slow and 'shambolically' handling the election in Mvita constituency.

It was reported that other polling centers across Mvita constituency are experiencing similar delays.

At Kaderbhouy centre in Mombasa CBD, there was disorganisation of the polling process, as voters were left to determine their polling stations by themselves in the centre.

Joho said the delay in Mvita was not satisfactorily explained by the IEBC officials.

“They gave some reasons, but we do not feel satisfied. They say they were blocked in the morning by some trucks that had been parked on the road and could not leave on time.

“That is not a valid excuse. People woke up early to go and vote. They should have voted as early as 6am when the centres were being opened,” he said.

Nassir said the IEBC should ensure the centres that witnessed delays are given additional time.

“They should be allowed to vote even as late as 9pm, to compensate for the wasted time,” he said.

Mombasa IEBC returning officer Swalha Yusuf told the Star the issue had been resolved and voting was moving on smoothly.

Yusuf said areas that were hit by delays would be added equal time that had been wasted.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)