IEBC says Ol Kalou by-election 'progressing as planned', reports 38% turnout by midday

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has said voting in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election proceeded smoothly and peacefully on Thursday, with voter turnout reaching 38.2 per cent by 1 p.m., as it cautioned political leaders against disrupting polling stations and tallying centres ahead of vote counting.

In a status update issued minutes before the close of voting, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said most polling stations opened at 6 a.m. as scheduled and commended voters who turned out early despite the cold weather.

The commission said all eligible voters continued to be identified using the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kits, with no major challenges reported during polling.

As counting was set to begin after the close of voting at 5 p.m., the IEBC reminded political parties that the law does not recognise "super agents" and warned that only accredited agents, observers, media personnel and election officials would be allowed inside polling stations and tallying centres.

Ethekon also cautioned state and public officers that they are only permitted to vote at their designated polling stations.

“There is no provision in law for "super agents" or any unauthorized persons to operate within polling or tallying centers including leaders of political parties.

“Further, state officers and public officers who are registered voters are entitled to vote only at their designated polling stations. They are NOT permitted to roam from one polling station to another,” said Ethokon.

The commission urged senior political leaders wishing to observe the tallying process to cooperate with election officials and security personnel, warning against any actions that could disrupt or delay the tallying and declaration of results.

IEBC said results would be counted openly at each polling station in the presence of agents, observers and the media, with agents allowed to photograph the official results forms and copies of the forms posted publicly at polling stations before transmission to the constituency tallying centre.

The electoral agency further reminded any aggrieved parties that election disputes should be pursued through the courts and urged voters, candidates and political parties to maintain peace during and after the election as it prepares to announce the official results.