IEBC Commissioner Hassan Noor speaks to the media after receiving ballot papers in Ol Kalou/SCREENGRAB
Ballot papers for Thursday's high-stakes Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election have arrived in Nyandarua County, with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) assuring voters that all preparations are in place for a free, fair and peaceful poll.
The ballot papers were received and inspected in the
presence of IEBC officials, political party agents, candidates and security
personnel ahead of the closely watched vote.
IEBC Commissioner Hassan Noor, who is overseeing the exercise, said the commission was committed to delivering a transparent and credible election that reflects the will of the people of Ol Kalou.
"We are here to supervise this electoral process and make sure that it is free and fair and peaceful," Noor said.
"We want the people of Ol Kalou to determine who their leader will be and we expect it to be a fairly easy process for everybody."
He said the commission had held extensive consultations with security agencies to guarantee the safety of voters, election officials and polling materials.
"We have had a very robust engagement with the security team in Nyandarua and beyond," he said.
"We are here to witness the opening of the pallets. The ballot papers have just arrived and we have opened them. Everybody here is satisfied – IEBC staff and party agents – that all has gone well."
According to Noor, all candidates and their agents inspected the ballot papers and election materials before signing documents confirming that everything was in order.
"Agents and candidates have signed to show they have inspected the boxes and everything is in order," he said.
The commissioner also warned against any attempts to disrupt the electoral process, saying security agencies were fully prepared to deal with anyone intent on causing chaos.
"In the unlikely event that somebody has mischief, security organs are fully prepared to repulse anything that will be of harm to the people as they exercise their democratic right," he said.
Noor reiterated the commission's independence, saying IEBC officials would remain impartial throughout the election.
"As IEBC we are midwives. We are impartial, we have no specific candidate, we are independent and I want us to be treated in that light. Please cooperate with IEBC staff and make our job easy," he said.
IEBC Commissioner Ann Nderitu also appealed to voters and political players to adhere to the electoral laws and procedures, emphasizing that no new rules would be introduced for the by-election.
"We are not introducing new rules in this by-election," she said.
She reminded voters that only accredited individuals would be allowed inside polling stations.
"We reiterate that we do not expect any person who is not accredited to be allowed at the polling station except the voter."
Nderitu urged residents to cast their ballots peacefully before leaving polling centres to allow election officials to carry out their work efficiently.
"We want a smooth process. Once you vote, go home," she said.
She added that vote counting would be conducted openly at polling stations in the presence of candidates' agents, election observers and the media.
"The counting process will start in the presence of the agents, media, election observers and everybody will be allowed to see the tallying. The media will also be allowed to photograph the result forms."
She said the commission was committed to ensuring that the Ol Kalou by-election met the constitutional standards of transparency, openness, credibility and verifiability.
