Polling stations across the country opened at 6:00am as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) kicked off another key electoral exercise, with officials assuring voters of a smooth and transparent process throughout the day.
According to IEBC guidelines, polling will continue uninterrupted until 5:00pm, with all eligible voters who join the queue by closing time permitted to cast their ballots.
Election officials reiterated that any time lost during the polling period whether due to technical challenges, delays in opening, or unavoidable interruptions will be fully recovered at the end of the day.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) completed preparations for today’s by-elections in all 22 electoral areas and voting is underway.
The commission has assured Kenyans of a smooth, secure, and transparent voting process.
IEBC had earlier said election materials, polling officials, and security personnel have already been dispatched to their respective stations.
Upon arrival, the agency said, the teams will set up and remain overnight to ensure polling begins promptly at 6 am.
“Voters in the queue by 5 pm will still be allowed to cast their ballots, and any lost time at opening will be recovered at closing,” it said.
The opening of polling centres at dawn marks another crucial test of IEBC’s logistical capacity and administrative preparedness.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has assured Kenyans of heightened security during the by-elections.
According to the commission, every polling station in the 22 by-election areas will have a minimum of two security officers on duty.
Additional security teams will also be conducting patrols and providing rapid response where necessary.
“Voters are assured of a secure and peaceful environment and are urged to report any incidents through the appropriate security channels,” said IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon in a statement.
The Commission said the move is aimed at guaranteeing a secure, peaceful, and orderly environment for voters to exercise their democratic right.
Working closely with the National Police Service, the IEBC said it has deployed adequate security personnel not only at polling stations but also at tallying centres and other strategic locations across the constituencies holding by-elections.
This includes both urban and rural polling points, ensuring comprehensive coverage and rapid intervention capabilities.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen conducted an assessment of the security situation in various electoral areas.
In his address at Kasipul, Murkomen warned that anybody who will be found loitering and trying to interfere with elections will be treated as a suspect “like other suspects.”
The presence of security officers at the voting areas, he said, will be to ensure that voters are not intimidated.
"Our job as a government is to ensure voters are not intimidated, and when we succeed in intimidating the goons, we are very happy. When goons complain that the government is intimidating, it is my joy,” said the CS.
