Low voter turnout mars Baringo Senate by-elections

Low voter turnout marred the Senate by-elections in Baringo County and three other wards in the North Rift region as candidates battle it out in the mini-polls that set the stage for 2027 General Election.

A spot check at several polling stations shows that few voters showed up to participate in the elections despite the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) opening its doors as early as 5 pm.

There was tight security in most polling stations and verification of the registered voters through the KIEMS biometric system went on smoothly to allow the electorate to cast their votes.

Six candidates are squaring it out for the Baringo senate seat: Vincent Chemitei of United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Benjamin Chebon -of The New Democrat (TND) party, Shadrack Kibet Kaplawat Alliance for Real Change (ARC), Steve David Kipruto Republican Liberal Party (RLP), Samuel Letasio- Kenya Moja Movement (KMM) and Daniel Kirui of Umoja na Maendeleo party.

As at 10 am, only 46 out of 625 electorates had voted at Tenges Primary School polling station in Baringo Central, while at Tandui Primary School, 12 out of 646 had participated in the exercise and 40 out of 676 at Timboiywo Primary School polling station.

Hillary Cheburet, the presiding officer at the polling center attributed the low voter turnout to personal errands.

"Many locals are in their farms harvesting their crops and we believe they will still come and exercise their democratic rights before we close the polling center at 5 pm," he said.

There are more than 281, 053 registered voters in the county, which has 1,029 polling stations in the six constituencies- Baringo Central which has 45, 920 registered voters, Eldama Ravine (64,074), Baringo North (50,287), Baringo South (42,791), Tiaty (39,059) and Mogotio (38,922) respectively.

Few voters also turned up in Chemundu/Kapngetuny Ward, Chesumei Constituency in Nandi County where four candidates are battling it out for 14,535 registered voters.

“Many voters are used to participating in General elections and most of them are unlikely to turn up for the exercise,” said Joshua Kipkemboi, one of the voters.

Most polling stations had registered less than 30 votes by 10 am.

The IEBC sub-County Returning Officer Rajab Barasa said the voting process was going on smoothly in 30 polling stations. 

The seat has attracted four candidates: David Kiptoo (The Equitable Party), Vincent Rutto (UDA), Shaffie Letting and Robert Kipchirchir (New Democrats Party). 

In Turkana County, voters who are mainly pastoralists have turned up in large numbers at 13 polling stations for the Nanam ward by-elections in Turkana West Constituency.

The IEBC officials said slight hitches in biometric identification that were delaying the voting process.

"There are no major challenges so far, but extreme heat was affecting voter identification through the KIEMS biometric system. It was expected," Mr Noah Bowen, Nanam ward Returning Officer said.

He said that enough security personnel have been deployed to man the polling stations and ensure voting process goes on peacefully.

Ms Sera Wachira from the Office of Registrar of Political Parties who is among the observers said that they are monitoring political parties participating in the by elections to ensure they are adhering to code of conduct and other election rules.

"The process is going on well with voters categorized as special interest groups who are elderly and people living with disabilities and women with children being given priority to vote. KIEMS kits are working," Ms Wachira said.

At AIC Lopiding Primary School, accredited agents representing various candidates are there to ensure that the process is seamless. Voters are first checked for their National Identification Cards before being allowed to queue and vote.

Cosmos Longor, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate for Nanam ward by-elections in Turkana West Constituency who was among the first people to cast their vote at AIC Lopiding Primary School polling station called on IEBC to ensure that the exercise was free, fair and credible.

At Metkei ward in Elgeyo Marakwet County, there was no contest after the unopposed UDA candidate Philip Kipruto was gazetted by the IEBC. 

“I’m waiting to be sworn in as Member of the County Assembly after obtaining UDA ticket during party primaries on September 20 and being gazetted by IEBC on October 29,” said Mr Kipruto who recaptured the seat he won during the 2017 General Election as an independent candidate.

Reporting by Florah Koech, Titus Ominde, Sammy Lutta and Barnabas Bii