Emurua Dikirr by-election: Voters told to leave polling stations after voting

Security agencies have heightened surveillance and deployed additional personnel ahead of Thursday’s Emurua Dikirr parliamentary by-election, warning voters against loitering at polling stations or attempting to disrupt the electoral process.

Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Abdi Hassan said stern action would be taken against anyone found inciting violence or interfering with voting.

Addressing the press on Tuesday, May 12, after chairing a multi-agency security meeting at the Emurua Dikirr Deputy County Commissioner’s office, Hassan urged residents to maintain peace by voting and leaving polling centres immediately.

“I also want to ask the voters, as soon as you cast your vote, please go home and leave the other work to the IEBC officials,” Hassan said.

“Anyone who tries to breach peace will be dealt with decisively, and they will have no one to blame because we have issued clear notice and instructions, because it is the people who will decide.”

The regional commissioner said security officers had received firm instructions to deal with any attempts to interfere with the election process.

Hassan also assured journalists covering the by-election that adequate measures had been put in place to guarantee their safety.

“There is no cause for alarm. The media will be secured to discharge their duties properly,” he said.

The warning comes a day after clashes erupted in Emurua Dikirr town, leaving several people injured.

Hassan condemned the violence and appealed to political supporters to exercise restraint during the mini-poll.

He said similar security measures would also be enforced during the Porro ward by-election in Samburu county and the Endo ward by-election in Elgeyo-Marakwet county, which are scheduled for the same day.

Meanwhile, Emurua Dikirr IEBC Returning Officer Caleb Gekonde said the electoral commission was fully prepared for the by-election after training all officials who will oversee the exercise.

A total of 44,353 registered voters are expected to cast their ballots across 94 polling stations in the constituency.

Gekonde announced strict access controls at the tallying centre located at Emurua Dikirr Technical Training Institute (TTI), citing security concerns.

He said only candidates and one tallying agent each would be allowed entry.

“If it is the male candidate, we are not going to allow the wife or in the case of a female candidate, we will not allow the husband. For the security officers, we will only allow those on duty,” Gekonde said.

“If you are planning to go to the tallying centre, please bear with us. We have already communicated with the candidates.”

The by-election has attracted four candidates: David Keter of UDA, Vincent Rotich of DCP, Desma Cherono of PNU and Gideon Koech of the National Vision Party.

The seat fell vacant following the death of former Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno in a helicopter crash at Chepkiep village in Mosop sub-county, Nandi county.