- Illongo called on politicians and Machakos residents to maintain peace during the campaigns, elections and after elections.
- The campaigns according to IEBC ends on Saturday, 48 hours to the Elections Day.
Image: GEORGE OWITI
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has created 140 new polling stations in Machakos county.
Machakos county IEBC returning officer Nelly Illongo said the polling stations had increased from 1,332 in 2017 to 1,472 in 2022 ahead of the August 9 general election.
“Masinga constituency has 177 polling stations, Yatta 210, Kangundo 130, Matungulu 165, Kathiani 123, Mavoko 215, Machakos town 232, while Mwala has 220 totalling to 1,472 polling stations,” Illongo said.
She addressed the press at her office in Machakos on Thursday.
She said the county had 687,541 registered voters.
“Masinga constituency has 68,879 registered voters, Yatta (82,397), Kangundo (60,772), Matungulu (75,841), Kathiani (60,224), Mavoko (132,163), Machakos (117,36), while Mwala has (89,898).”
The county IEBC boss said there were 23 candidates contesting for county positions; five for governor position, eight senate, and eight woman representative.
Illongo said the electoral authority in Machakos were ready for the August 9 elections.
“We are ready for the elections, we are well prepared. Voter education exercise has been ongoing and will continue for four days. We have voter educators in the county, constituency and ward levels. Each of the 40 wards in Machakos county has two voter educators totalling to 80 in all the wards,” Illongo said.
She said IEBC officials that comprise presiding officers and their deputies and clerks had been trained on their respective roles in the polls.
“I urge all stakeholders that we be together in the preparations and facilitation of the elections. The county has received all election materials required to conduct the polls,” she said.
Illongo called on politicians and Machakos residents to maintain peace during the campaigns, elections and after elections. The campaigns according to IEBC ends on Saturday, 48 hours to the Elections Day.
“When you get to the playing field, there are winners and losers. The winner is one per elective seat. So, each political position will only be occupied by one candidate, all others contesting for the same shall have lost,” she said.
“If you don’t win, check on where you went wrong so as to make other attempts next time. After announcements of the results, let’s remember that Machakos is ours. We don’t have any other home. The winner should take over leadership and serve all residents without discrimination.
Losers to maintain peace and support winners so as to move the county forward development wise. There is no need for violence, we will remain neighbours,” Illongo said.
She said agents of various candidates should remain in polling stations where they will be assigned until the end of exercise to be able to own the results.
“Agents should be with us in polling stations to the end because they are also election officials so that they be able to own the results. They should be able to witness each and everything that happens in those stations and be able to say, ‘this is what transpired’,” Illongo said.