Category: POPULAR

Agriculture CS Peter Munya has criticized the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission for ill-preparedness due to the postponement of the Mombasa and Kakamega gubernatorial polls.

Munya said the suspensions may lead to low voter turnout. The two are seen as strongholds of Azimio La Umoja Presidential Candidate Raila Odinga. “You can imagine they will wait for another time to cast their votes. This time it has many challenges and you can imagine the people of Kakamega and Mombasa who won’t go to vote for the governor of their choice. Since it has happened, we hope IEBC learns from their mistakes,” Munya said.

However, Munya exuded confidence that Raila will win by a large margin. He spoke after casting his vote on Tuesday in At Nchui Primary School, Muthara Ward in Tigania East. At the polling stations at Ngage Secondary school, Ikana, Thai, Ngongoaka, Thathi and Miurine primary schools, there was low voter turnout in the early hours.

In most of the polling stations in Tangatha Ward, Tigania East constituency, the voting was slightly hampered by KIEM kits failure to recognise fingerprints from some voters, especially the elderly.

Meru Deputy Governor Titus Ntuchiu, who cast his vote at Mwithanga Primary School, took issue with IEBC officials for denying some of the Devolution Empowerment Party (Mbus) agents a role to observe the voting process. Ntuchiu urged Meru residents to turn out in large numbers and vote for a candidate with a development track record.

“I am confident [Governor] Kiraitu will win. I want to condemn one of our opponents whom we have got information about bribing voters at Tutua polling station. Once you vote go home, tune to your favourite TV or Radio to get updates of the outcome,” Ntuchiu said after voting.

He said Kenyans should exercise tolerance and accept the outcome of the results as announced by IEBC. Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi voted at Irimbene Primary School, while his opponent Senator Mithika Linturi voted at Urra Tea Buying Center.

Kiraitu asked candidates to exercise maturity during and after elections. He called on his competitors to accept the outcome and restrain their supporters from causing any disruption.

At least 6,567,869 voters had turned out to vote in the ongoing elections as of noon, equivalent to 30.66 per cent of the registered voters, the IEBC has announced.

In a briefing by vice chairperson Juliana Cherera, the IEBC said voting in diaspora (Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda, United Kingdom, Canada, USA, South Sudan, Qatar, and Germany) will be conducted within the local time of the said regions. “It will take place from 6 am and 5 pm their local time,” she said.

The commission further announced that voting has been suspended in Kitui Rural and Rongai over ballot papers mixups. “The commission is working hard to ensure materials are in place,” Cherera said.

Voting has also been adjourned in Eldas following a fracas that affected the distribution of materials in the constituency. “During the gunfire, poll officials remained trapped. The election has been adjourned and the issue is to be resolved,” she said.

In Turkana, two clerks and a presiding were involved in a car accident, delaying the start of voting at the affected polling station. They were discharged after treatment for minor injuries. IEBC further reported that due to the security situation in Daadab, four polling stations are yet to be opened.

The commission further announced that the use of a manual register has been allowed in 84 polling stations in Makueni, and 154 polling stations in Kakamega. Malava, Matungu, Mumias East, Mumias West were affected by delays. Presiding officers will extend the voting exercise by the amount of time lost.

A new poll by research firm Infotrak has placed Azimio la Umoja Presidential candidate Raila Odinga as the most preferred contender in the August race to State House with a popularity rating of 49 percent.

Deputy President and UDA Party candidate William Ruto came in second in the poll with a popularity rating of 42 percent.

Roots Party candidate Prof. George Wajackoyah’s popularity stood at 2 percent followed by Agano Party presidential candidate David Mwaure’s at 0.3 percent.

The survey released on Tuesday evening was conducted between August 1 and 2, across nine geographic regions namely: Coast, Northern, Lower Eastern, Mt. Kenya, South Rift, North Rift, Nyanza, Western and Nairobi.

Odinga ranked higher in six regions; Coast region, Northern, Lower Eastern, Nyanza, Western and Nairobi while Ruto was ahead in Mt. Kenya, South Rift and North Rift.

A total of 6,000 Kenyans are reported to have participated in the survey which was conducted through Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI).

“To ensure the survey findings were representative of Kenyan voters, who are 18+ years, the sample was designed proportionate to size using the voter’s register and covered all the 9 sub-regions. All the 47 counties and all 290 constituencies of Kenya,” the IPSOS report reads in part.

“Data was processed and analysed using SPSS 26 statistical software due to its high accuracy and reliability.”

Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua’s popularity was distributed across the regions as follows: Coast (58pc), Northern (55pc), Lower Eastern (71pc), Mt. Kenya (24pc), South Rift (31pc), Northern Rift (30pc), Nyanza (79pc) Western (61pc) and Nairobi (53pc).

According to Infotrak, DP Ruto and his running mate Rigathi Gachagua’s popularity stood at 29pc (Coast), 35pc (Northern), 19pc (Lower Eastern), 66pc (Mt.Kenya), 62pc (South Rift), 64pc (North Rift), 14pc (Nyanza), 29pc (Western) and 37pc (Nairobi).