The persistent chilly weather gave way to the sun to bless the voters who mumbled impatiently in the long queues awaiting their turn.
It was a pawn move of despair and hope for the masses who had only one goal: for their vote to count.
Beatrice Khaoya, 44, arrived a few minutes past 3pm at the Old Kibera Primary School, where Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga voted. She carried a small baby on her bossom.
For four times Raila has taken a shot at the presidency, Khaoya voted for him with the hope that her vote would count.
"I was babysitting for my daughter who left early in the morning to go vote but when she took too long to return, I carried her baby and got out here," she said.
"I was scared I would miss out."
For Khaoya, the hope for a new beginning with a candidate she believes "would bring change" was the push she needed to vote.
The push was different for Peter Kiriga at the Imara Daima grounds polling station in Embakasi South.
In despair, Kiriga wanted to pick the devil and the deep blue sea.
"I am tired of the tough economic times eating away our African culture, "Kirigi said.
"As a man, I should not be counting on my wife's help to sustain my family. I simply want to end it."
To end it, the father of three woke up at 4 am to join a long queue at the same place the incumbent Member of Parliament Julius Mawathe voted.
"I hope my effort doesn't go to waste," he said displaying his inked little finger.
Some polling stations had delayed opening prompting aggression from members of the public.
Such was the situation at Moi Avenue Primary School where agitated voters stormed the locked gates to access the polling station.
At AA Villa polling station in Mukuru Kwa Njenga, voting was delayed by an hour.
An IEBC official who was ferrying voting materials to the station was accosted by a charging crowd who thought he planned to rig the elections.
"He did not have official IEBC branded apparel that would identify him. The police moved in quick to quell the rage," Embakasi OCPD Maasai Makau said.
The situation was similar in East Africa School of Aviation, KICC, and Ushirika Primary School among others.
As the people trooped to polling stations, the CBD remained empty. So empty that young teenagers occupied green spots uptown for photoshoots.
Matatus hiked fare, some doubling the amount, taking advantage of voters who would stop at nothing to exercise their democratic right.
"Whatever the outcome, I only pray that peace prevails," Khadija Ashraff, a voter at Kilimani Primary School said.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
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