Mobile voting in wilds of Tana River

It's their constitutional right, duty and privilege, but for some voters in Tana River, voting was also hot, exhausting and hot wind blew hot sand into their faces.

But they were determined to vote, they flocked the mobile polling station.

The process was fast and smooth. Turnout was high.

Residents, mostly women, voted in the wild at stations set up for pastoralists who queued without shelter from the scorching sun.

The aim was to make it convenient to vote, especially for pastoralists. Lightweight voting booths kept blowing over in the hot wind and agents kept setting them up again.

Journalists touring Gafuru mobile station more than 15km from Hola town in the sandy scrub found IEBC officials at tables under a leafless tree.

They saw vultures but after dusk, there will be elephants, buffalos, lions, hyenas and snakes. Let's hope they finish on time but pastoralists said they weren't afraid, they are pastoralists.

Women carrying young children were seated under shadeless shrubs. Most voters were women, many wearing heat-absorbing dark colours, many with children.

One armed police officer and and NYS officer ensured order.

Agents had to stand and wait for anyone who needed assistance. They were standing the whole day.

Voters kept turning up, many from long distances.Woman representative candidate, UDA's Sadia Hussein, swiftly cast her vote.

Hussein said the station was called Harambee mobile polling station. She thanked residents for turning up in large numbers, despite the fact there was no school for a proper polling station.

“Many people have been flocking to the polling station since 5am, so we expect there will be no hitches and we hope we will win," she said.

“Some left their livestock with young children since yesterday to travel a long distance to come,vote and witness the winners before going back to their livelihood. 

“We believe God is with us and, Inshallah, pastoralists, farmers and every one in Tana River have come out in large numbers, left their businesses and  farms to vote,” she said.

Hussein said security was sufficient. She also said voters don't fear wild animals, so they will stay until the last person votes.

As soon as she is declared the winner, she said, she will embark on a mission to ensure there will be no more mobile polling stations in the future.

"There are many wild animals and many mobile centres, but those are the challenges. Many people woke up early, skipped tea and came straight here," she said.

After she voted, Hussein had a word with officers, requesting them to allow women with young children, pregnant women, nursing women, the elderly and those with disability to vote without queuing.

They were having a hard time.

It was done.

Voter Daudi Ibrahim said voting was going on peacefully and people had braved the heat of the sun to vote for a better Kenya.

“This place is hot, there are no shade trees but security is good," he said.

Tana River county has 141,096 voters.

The governor's race has attracted 13 candidates including incumbent Dhadho Godhana, the first governor and former CAS Hussein Dado of UDA and Ali Wario of Jubilee.

Others are Hassan Morowa (PAA) Dr Nuh Nassir (UPIA), Suleiman Buko (Ford Kenya), Karhayu Deye (Communist Party), Adam Dhidha (The Service Party), Major (Rtd) Swaleh Odha Jillo, Michael Justine Nkaduda (The New Democrats), independent Salim Kea Batuyu, Athman Koffa Ndoyoya (ANC), Omar Koffa Komora (United Green Movement party). 

The Senate seat has attracted 10 candidates. Thirteen candidates are running for woman representative.

(Edited by V. Graham)