KENYA: By-Elections Underway Across 22 Electoral Areas – IEBC Launches Polling

By Moses Punyuah, Nairobi Kenya 

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is today conducting by-elections in 22 electoral areas across the country as polling opened at 6:00 a.m. and will run until 5:00 p.m.

The exercise follows the commission’s final readiness briefing, in which chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon urged all presiding officers, media and party agents to faithfully record proceedings and uphold electoral integrity.

According to IEBC guidelines, once polls close, the presiding officer will in full view of agents and media open ballot boxes, count votes, and publicly record results. Agents and observers are allowed to photograph the result forms once officially certified.

IEBC has reassured voters that all necessary logistics have been completed: election materials, polling officials and security deployment are in place to ensure a smooth, transparent and safe voting process.

Voters in all 22 constituencies and wards spanning both National Assembly and MCA vacancies are urged to exercise their right to vote before 5 p.m., even if queues form near closing time.

As Kenyans partake in today’s polls, the nation watches closely, hopeful that the by-elections will proceed peacefully, free from irregularities and in full respect of democratic  principles.