Voting underway in Wajir South poll

Voting in the Wajir South by-election is underway as voters decide on their next representative in Parliament.

The process, which started at exactly 6 a.m. at most polling stations was marked by a low voter turnout.

But the number increased gradually with those manning the elections expressing confidence that the turnout will be impressive.

At the Udhole Dam and Habaswein Primary School polling stations, a huge chunk of voters were being assisted to vote, something attributed to the high levels of illiteracy.

“We have assisted more than 80 percent of the voters here to vote,” said one Presiding officer at the Udhole Dam polling station, which has 309 registered voters.

“But we are, however, optimistic that the process will go on smoothly…those who had registered twice have not been allowed to vote,” he said.

The constituency has some 22,100 registered voters and 73 polling stations.

The seat fell vacant after former MP Abdirahman Hassan’s election was nullified following a successful petition filed by ODM-K’s candidate Mohammed Sirat.

Mr Hassan had won the seat on a Kanu ticket, an affiliate party of the PNU coalition.

Security at the constituency has been tightened with police officers patrolling the area.

During Monday’s news conference at Habaswein town,  IIEC director of Voter Registration and Elections Operation Ms Immaculate Kissait said that adequate security will be guaranteed at the constituency that borders Somalia.

Military and Administration Police officers will be deployed in the constituency with the Kenya-Somalia border being a priority.

“We have tightened the security along our borders,” she said.

One of the challenges, she said, was in the delivery of results electronically. This is because it is only 18 polling centres out of the 73 that has network coverage.

Official results for the constituency, whose tallying centre will be at Habaswein town, will not be expected until after midnight.

According to documents provided by the IIEC, the furthest polling centre from Habaswein is 335 kilometres away which is Salalma Dam polling centre. The polling station with the least number of voters is Gulled Dere Dam with 7 voters.

The average distance from the tallying centre for all polling centres is 198 kilometres.

Already, six candidates have been cleared to vie for the vacant seat.

They include: Mr Hassan (Kanu) and Sirat (ODM-K), who are the clear favourites for the seat which was declared vacant by Speaker Kenneth Marende in August.

Other candidates include Abdullahi Bulale (Narc), Ahmed Ali Mukhtar (National Agenda Party of Kenya) and Abdirizak Mohammed Ibrahim (Liberal Party of Kenya).

Voting patterns will be dictated by clan affiliations.

The largest clan is Mohamed Zuber which belongs to the incumbent Hassan, other clans are Makbul clan, Geri and Bageri clans.

Lack of water, poor road network, lack of electricity and other amenities as well as illiteracy and general high poverty levels are some of the challenges facing the electorate.

Wajir South is one of the largest constituencies in the country.

Today’s by-election will offer another chance to parties to extend their fight, after the battle for September by-election.

In the three by elections held last month, Narc Kenya sprung a surprise on PNU and ODM to win Juja and Makadara.

ODM recaptured the Starehe seat.