Brief standoff as residents challenge vehicle's presence at Ol Kalou polling centre

A brief commotion was reported at St Joseph Catholic Comprehensive School polling station in Ol Kalou on Thursday after residents confronted a vehicle that entered the polling centre, raising concerns about the security of the voting process.

The incident occurred during the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election when what witnesses described as a Volkswagen vehicle drove into the polling station compound, prompting an immediate reaction from voters and other residents gathered at the centre.

Several people questioned why the vehicle had been allowed into the polling station, with some calling for it to leave the premises immediately.

Amid the commotion, some residents said they would "guard" their votes, expressing concern about the integrity of the electoral process.

The vehicle later left the polling station as election officials and security personnel sought to calm the situation.

Some residents also expressed concern about the presence of individuals they believed were plain-clothes security officers within the polling station.

They questioned the identity and role of the individuals, saying only authorised election officials, agents, accredited observers and uniformed security personnel should be within the voting area.

As tensions briefly rose, several residents shouted towards journalists covering the election, urging them to document the incident.

"Media, muangalie huku!" they repeatedly shouted as the vehicle left the polling station.

Despite the brief confrontation, calm was restored shortly afterwards, and voting continued without interruption.

By mid-morning, an IEBC official at the polling station said 198 of the 573 registered voters assigned to the station had cast their ballots, indicating what the official described as steady voter turnout during the morning hours.

Residents continued queuing peacefully at various classrooms that had been converted into polling stations, while election officials processed voters in an orderly manner.

Security officers maintained a presence within and outside the polling station throughout the exercise.

Police continued monitoring the situation as voters streamed into the polling centre to cast their ballots.

The incident was among the few moments of tension reported during the by-election, which otherwise appeared to proceed peacefully across the constituency.

Aspirants who cast their ballots also commended what they described as the generally peaceful environment and urged residents to continue turning out to vote.