Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi and Inspector general of police Joseph Boinett have said adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure the fresh presidential election proceeds smoothly.
Speaking after casting his vote at Manga Girls polling station in Kuria Borabu Constituency, the Interior CS said security personnel had been deployed to NASA strongholds even as supporters blocked roads leading to polling centres.
He further urged those who will boycott the polls to do so peacefully without blocking others from exercising their democratic right. At the same time Matiang’i said ninety percent of polling stations opened in the country.
IG Boinnet who was speaking after casting his vote at Madaraka area of Nairobi, said that reports reaching him so far show that most areas are going about the process peacefully except for some places that prompted police response.
He also denied reports of their being unknown people masquerading as police officers and being used to commit atrocities.
Meanwhile in NASA strongholds, voters kept off the polling stations as they heeded the call by their leader Raila Odinga to boycott the poll.
In Siaya, residents barricaded roads, light bonfires, paralyzed transport, insisting that no voting will take place in the county.
In Kibra, bonfires were lit on the roads before security personnel turned up to contain the situation. However, Embakasi and Roysambu constituencies registered high voter turnouts with Kenyans braving the heavy rains to participate in the repeat presidential election.
Some voters in Kariobangi south Primary polling center had to walk barefoot to access the voting booths due to muddy grounds.