- Mohamed said all presiding officers had arrived and they expect the exercise will go on smoothly in all the six wards and 140 polling stations.
- Garsen constituency wards include Kipini East, Kipini West, Garsen South, Garsen North, Garsen Central and Garsen West.
All is set for the election in Garsen constituency of Tana River county as more than 55,453 voters are expected to cast their ballot on Tuesday.
Constituency returning officer Hadija Mohamed confirmed all ballot papers had reached the tallying centre at Garsen Boys High School and dispatch had begun at 2pm.
Mohamed, who spoke to journalists at the tallying centre, said all presiding officers had arrived and they expect the exercise will go on smoothly in all the six wards and 140 polling stations.
Garsen constituency wards include Kipini East, Kipini West, Garsen South, Garsen North, Garsen Central and Garsen West.
“So far, we are good to go. I thank all government officials and security officers who have been with me from the day we set up the tallying centre," Mohamed said.
The official said there was ample security during the first dispatch, in the presence of all candidates.
She said the last batch of presidential ballots arrived the day before yesterday.
“Today we have opened ballot papers. We had few candidates together with security officers. We might have challenges but we have identified them,” Mohamed said.
The official said she has had sleepless nights trying to make sure all polling stations have the ethnicity they deserve.
She said proper security arrangements and ethnic balance in terms of posting officials had been made perfect, for a seamless election.
“I am happy to have been posted in this constituency. I am friendly with all candidates and they are ready to work as a team. They have assured me they will work with me until the end of this journey,” Mohamed said.
She said her prayer is that winners will hold the ones who will have lost.
Seven contestants are eying the Garsen parliamentary seat. They include incumbent Ali Wario, Dullu Igwo, Komora Jillo, Ahmed Bute, Abdula Bocha Guracho, Abdi Welly and Hussein Dara.
A spot check within the townships of Garsen town and Minjila revealed calm as most residents anticipate peaceful polls.
An opinion leader from Tana Delta subcounty Maclin Paul Ziunge urged residents to embrace peace.
He also asked candidates to be peaceful and those who will lose to accept the results instead of causing chaos.
“All candidates from governor, senator woman rep, MP and MCAs should remain peaceful and accept those who will win," Ziunge said.
He further urged the youths to desist from being used to instigate violence, so that the county remains peacefully.
Ibrahim Buya from Garsen urged the youth not to be used to cause violence by leaders.
“Whoever loses should accept, sign and allow the winner to take power, as it will be the will of the people,” he said.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)