Ballot boxes will be opened in full view of agents, observers and the media after the close of polling at 5 pm in Thursday’s by-elections, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has assured.
In a statement posted on X, IEBC said the presiding officer will be the one to “open the boxes, count the ballots, and tabulate the results at the polling station in an open and transparent process.”
IEBC noted that by-election results will be accessible to the public on the commission’s results portal.
Polling stations opened at 6:00 am nationwide. Voters were identified via the KIEMS biometric system and are required to verify their registration details from the 2022 voter register, which has been displayed at each polling centre for transparency.
According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, anyone in the queue by the official closing time would still be allowed to cast their vote.
“Polling stations will open at 6 am and close at 5 pm. In cases where opening is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances, time lost will be compensated. All voters who are in the queue by 5 pm will be allowed to cast their ballots,” Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said in a statement earlier.
The National Police Service has reassured the public that security officials are fully deployed across polling stations, transit routes, and sensitive areas to guarantee a peaceful voting atmosphere.
IEBC conducted by-elections in 22 electoral areas.
Earlier, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen cautioned politicians against mobilising supporters to “protect votes”.
The CS insisted that safeguarding the electoral process is solely the responsibility of the state.
Speaking in Kasipul on Wednesday while inspecting security preparedness, Murkomen said he had noted with concern a growing trend of politicians vowing to protect their votes at polling and tallying centres—an action he stressed is unlawful and unnecessary.
“I want Kenyans to know that no civilian has been given the responsibility to protect any vote,” the CS said firmly. “All Kenyans have a right to vote, and the provision of security is the preserve of the National Police Service.”
Murkomen warned political actors against hiring or ferrying goons to polling or tallying centres with the intention of intimidating rivals or influencing the process.
“I want to warn all those preparing to ferry goons to tallying centres to protect votes and disrupt the process that they will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.
The CS urged voters to return home immediately after casting their ballots, cautioning against crowding or loitering around tallying centres.
“Once you vote, go home and wait for the results. There is nothing like protecting your vote; we will not allow loitering around tallying stations,” he said. “Voting ends at the polling station. So you cannot tell us that you are waiting at a tallying centre to protect a vote.”
