Tense moments for candidates as they await results

Candidates for various seats were on Tuesday evening keeping their fingers crossed as results started trickling in from various polling stations.

At the strike of dawn, Kenyans were already in the queue to elect new leaders to represent them in various legislative houses.

August 9, could only be likened to the Biblical judgment day for most candidates and even their supporters.

After years of intense political campaigns persuading residents, a cloud of uncertainty and fears of the outcome of the poll yet still dangled.

As they cast their votes, most candidates were optimistic about cruising to victory.

While a number of candidates are making a stab in this election, others are defending their seats and are only hoping that their gods hear their prayers and rescue their political lives.

Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok of UDA who is squaring it out with Chama cha Mashinani party leader Isaac Rutto said he was hopeful of winning.

There are 376,985 registered voters from 853 polling stations in the county up from 322,012 from 728 polling stations in 2017.

It has five sub-counties of Sotik (86,681), Chepalungu (80,140), Bomet East (63,640), Bomet Central (71,409) and Konoin (75,115).

During the poll, late Governor Joyce Laboso was declared the winner after garnering 176,545 votes Rutto's 86,452.

Barchok said he held more than 600 public meetings across the county and was optimistic the electorates would elect him to continue delivering on his agenda.

The incumbent who took over from her predecessor-late Laboso- also praised IEBC saying it had managed the process well.

"We are happy with how the commission's staff who have been sent to this county are operating, we have not had any problems so we are only hoping for the best," said Barchok.

He spoke after casting his vote at Kapkomolwo primary school in Bomet east.

A spot check in the county showed there were no major challenges reported save for a slight delay in the delivery of ballot materials in two polling stations at Sotik.

There was a high turnout in most of the polling stations we visited in Sotik and Konoin.

Plans to rig the election in favour of particular candidates or camps were rife on Monday with politicians utilizing their social media handles to raise alarms.

What began as allegations by Kenya Kwanza that public servants including chiefs and their assistants were being used in the scheme caused panic in the region.

Rutto on his part urged Kenyans to accept the outcome of the results for the sake of peace in the country.

He said no matter the results, Kenyans must avoid engaging in acts that are likely to cause a breach of peace.

He stated that, unlike the previous poll, the electoral commission has been able to conduct the process in a fair and transparent manner.

"I want to urge Kenyans to accept the results, whichever way it will go we must be prepared to accept it," he said.

Addressing the press after casting his vote at Chebaraa primary school in Chepalungu, the Bomet gubernatorial candidate said he was satisfied with the manner in which IEBC has been responsive to issues being raised.

"We are going to have a peaceful election, IEBC has been prepared and managed the exercise in a proper manner unlike in the past where it has been used to influence the results," he added.

The government, he added, has also been swift in addressing any electoral-related malpractices that have been reported.

He cited an incident he claimed happened on Monday night where some individuals were moving around trying to bribe voters.

Kericho’s UDA Eric Mutai who seems to be the main contender in the race also urged residents to maintain peace and restraint during this period.

“I am proud that our people heeded our call of mass voter turnout, let us maintain peace throughout this period,” he said after casting his vote at Chebagal in Bureti.