Jubilee and CORD flex muscles in mini polls

Samuel Musita

Vote counting is underway following Wednesday’s by-elections in four wards in Kajiado, Kisii, Tana River and Turkana counties.

Polls closed at 5pm this evening and vote counting got underway soon afterwards. In Kalokol ward in Turkana county, confusion and violence characterized the vote, with supporters of rival political parties Jubilee and ODM engaging in a show of might.

At Lochuga polling station, supporters of the two candidates Josphat Ekenu of ODM and Simon Nang’iro of Jubilee confronted each other, disrupting the voting process.

Voting however resumed after security officers intervened, driving away the two factions. In Sala ward in Tana River county, voting kicked off with no major hitches though the turnout was not impressive.

In Nyacheki ward in Kisii county low voter turnout was evident throughout the voting exercise.

Over 20 thousand registered voters were expected to take part in the by-elections in the four wards. 

The  mini polls are expected to be used by Jubilee and ODM in testing waters ahead of the general election in August 2017.