As Kenyans streamed various polling stations across the country to vote on Thursday morning, no voting has been witnessed in parts of Nyanza region, an opposition bedrock.
A large number of IEBC officials in counties like Kisumu, Homabay, Migori and Siaya failed to turn up for duty for fears of their own security over threats by locals.
In Migori for instance, officials could not distribute voting materials as youths barricaded roads early in the morning to block the election from proceeding.
Speaking to the media, Homa Bay County Returning Officer Michael Kosgey said voting in the county did not proceed as officials failed to report to duty. “The poll isn’t taking place because the officials we hired to oversee it have given it a wide berth in fear of their lives,” he said.
A group of organized youths in Homa Bay moved from one polling station to the other to halt any plans to organize the election.
Almost all polling stations in Nyando Constituency remained closed.
In Ahero, Returning officer Carol Okky told journalists that only two election officers arrived to pick the ballot boxes and materials. “We trained a number of poll officials but most of them disappeared for fear of their lives,” said Ms Okky.
In Kisumu County, election materials were not dispatched to polling stations in different constituencies.
Kisumu East Returning Officer Yvonne Okeyo confessed that it was impossible for the voting to start.
Kisumu West Returning Officer Dennis Obara said nothing had been done as far as voting is concerned. “We are just seated here. We have been unable to transport the voting materials and even people are not turning up,” he said.
They could not vote because…
They could not vote because their god of poverty said so!