The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) says all preparations for this Thursday’s mini-polls are on course.
In the by-elections, residents of Isiolo South Constituency will head to the polls to pick their new Member of National Assembly following the demise of former area lawmaker Mohamed Tubi Bidu in November last year.
Residents of West Kabras Ward in Malava Constituency, and Muminji and Evurore Wards in Mbeere North Constituency will also cast their ballots to choose their new Members of County Assembly.
IEBC Chairman Erastus Ethekon says several critical milestones have so far been achieved ahead of the polls.
They include completion of procurement of election materials, gazettement of nominated candidates, polling stations, and tallying centres.
Also finalized is the servicing, testing, configuration and readiness of the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits for deployment.
“All eligible voters in the certified Register of Voters for the respective by-election areas will be identified using the KIEMS kits. The Register of Voters has been displayed at each polling station for public verification,” the statement by IEBC Chairperson reads in part.
Polling stations will open at 6:00am and close at 5:00pm. In cases where opening is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances, the Commission says the time lost will be compensated.
Ethekon has called on voters to follow instructions issued by polling officials to facilitate an orderly voting process.
With only few hours remaining ahead of the polls – the second to be managed by the Ethekon-led electoral body – candidates have been warned that any form of campaigning or engagement of voters for electoral purposes will not be permissible forthwith.
Campaigns officially closed Monday, February 23rd at 6pm in line with the gazetted election timelines.
Isiolo South Parliamentary race has turned out to be a sibling rivalry pitting UDA party candidate Tubi Mohamed Tubi against his Sister Bina Tubi who is contesting on a Jubilee party ticket.
The two are children of the former area MP Mohamed Tubi Bidu.
The UDA candidate got a major boost after the National Economic Development Party (NEDP) candidate Isaack Abduba Fayo withdrew from the race in his favour.
Additional reporting by Bruno Mutunga
