Ol Kalou polling nears close as IEBC outlines next steps

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has outlined the procedures that will guide the close of voting, counting, tallying and declaration of results in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election as polling entered its final hour on Thursday.

In a status update issued during the day, the commission said polling stations would officially close at 5 pm, after which presiding officers would immediately begin counting ballots at their respective polling stations in full view of agents, accredited observers and the media.

The commission clarified that any voter who is in the queue by the official closing time will still be allowed to cast a ballot.

It added that where polling stations experienced delayed opening or any interruption during the day, the presiding officer would extend voting hours by the amount of time lost to ensure no eligible voter is disadvantaged.

To enhance transparency, IEBC said agents present during the counting process will be allowed to take photographs of the official results forms once they have been completed and signed.

A copy of the polling station results form will also be publicly displayed at every polling station immediately after the completion of counting, allowing voters and other stakeholders to verify the outcome recorded at that station.

The electoral agency said constituency returning officers will then receive results from all polling stations before verifying, collating and announcing the final constituency results in the presence of candidates, agents and accredited stakeholders.

IEBC also reminded political parties, candidates and their supporters to respect the integrity of tallying centres, saying only accredited persons with valid identification badges will be allowed access to observe the process.

"There is no provision in law for 'super agents' or any unauthorised persons to operate within polling stations or tallying centres, including leaders of political parties," the commission said.

It further reminded state officers and public officers who are registered voters that they are only entitled to vote at their designated polling stations and are not permitted to move from one polling station to another.

Voters were also advised to leave polling stations and their immediate precincts promptly after casting their ballots to allow others to vote and to maintain order and security around polling centres.

The commission said anyone dissatisfied with the outcome of the by-election should pursue any grievances through the courts, which remain the lawful avenue for resolving electoral disputes.

By 1 pm, voter turnout in the constituency had reached 38.2 per cent of registered voters, according to the commission.

IEBC said most polling stations opened at 6 am as scheduled and thanked voters who turned up early despite the cold morning weather.

The commission also commended election officials, security agencies and citizens for their cooperation throughout the exercise, saying polling had generally proceeded in an orderly manner.

It said all eligible voters continued to be identified using the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kits before being issued with ballot papers.

As voting drew to a close, the commission urged eligible voters who had not yet cast their ballots to do so before polling officially closed, while calling on political parties, candidates, agents, the media and members of the public to uphold peace during the counting, tallying and declaration of results.

The Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election has attracted significant political interest, with candidates from several political parties and independent aspirants seeking to succeed the late area MP.

IEBC has said it will continue providing updates as the electoral process moves from voting to counting, tallying and the eventual declaration of results.