Baringo: A low number of people woke up to take part in the Baringo senatorial by-election across several polling stations within the county headquarters.
According to Kenya News Agency, a spot check indicated that only a few people on Thursday morning had turned up for the exercise conducted by the Independent, Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) across the six constituencies. At Kabarnet Hurth Secondary polling station, situated a few meters from the central business district, only four people had cast their votes by 7:30 am. A similar situation was witnessed at Seguton Hill Primary School Polling station within Kabarnet Ward, where only one person had arrived before the official opening hours of the center. However, the voter had to wait longer after polling officials faced challenges logging in the KIEMS kit, which delayed the exercise for 15 minutes.
At the Baringo County Assembly and Kabarnet High School polling stations, located in the heart of the town, no queues were witnessed except for a few people who came early to exercise their democratic right before embarking on their normal duties. By 9 am, Kaptimbor and A.I.C Visa Oshwal Primary Schools polling stations within the town had recorded fewer than 20 voters per stream. Kabarnet Kenya Medical Training College, which has 545 registered voters, was not exceptional in the low voter turnout as only 41 had cast their votes by 11 am, with the majority who voted being male.
Six candidates are competing in the race, including Kiprono Chemitei of United Democratic Alliance (UDA), David Kiptuto who is vying under the Republican Liberty Party (RLP), Samuel Letasio (Kenya Moja Movement), Benjamin Chebon of the New Democrats, Shadrack Kiplawat (Alliance for Real Change), and Daniel Kirui (Umoja na Maendeleo Party). Initially, the race had attracted more than ten aspirants, but some, including former senator Gideon Moi, failed to appear for clearance with the IEBC.
The seat fell vacant following the death of the second senator, William Cheptumo, in February this year. Despite the slow process, no major incidents have been reported by noon in the exercise, which is targeting 281,053 registered voters in Baringo County.
