Nyaribari Chache vote sees low turnout

A voter displays her inked finger after voting on March 4. FILE 

By JACKLINE MORAA

The Nyaribari Chache by-election kicked off on a low note early Monday amid claims of massive voter bribery and intimidation.

Voting was marked by low turnout in most of the 110 polling stations.

Constituency returning officer Robert Ng’eny told the Business Daily that the turnout was at 6 per cent as of 11 am.

“We are going on well despite the low voter turnout, we hope that before the stations close at 5 pm many people will see the sense of turning up to vote,” said Mr Ng’eny.

Most polling stations opened doors to voters by 6am, with several stations experiencing delays following the Electronic Voter Identification Devices' (EVID) failure.

Four TNA agents were arrested for allegedly engaging in voter bribery to influence voters in favour of their candidate Mr Robert Monda.

Two agents were arrested near Jogoo Township carrying Sh100, 000 in cash and several TNA agent forms were recovered from them.

The two, who were rounded up after a tip off by members of the public, claimed the money was meant to pay their agents - a claim that was refuted by Dagoretti North MP Arati Simba, who said that party agents are usually paid after the polls.

At Taracha Primary School, IEBC officials netted two TNA agents who were allegedly dishing out money to voters. The two failed to tender their official appointment letters from TNA.

Mr Chris Bichage (ODM), whose election was nullified by a Kisii court in October, castigated the events and asked security agents to be more vigilant and arrest those found engaging in electoral malpractices

“We are disappointed at the massive voter bribery but am still optimistic that the willpower of the people will prevail,” said Mr Bichage.