Jubilee leaders plead with voters in South Rift after low turnout

Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal votes at Kenyatta Stadium polling station in Maralal on October 26, 2017. South Rift counties had a low voter turnout by the afternoon. PHOTO | GODFREY OUNDOH | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Heavy rain in some areas was blamed for the low turnout.
  • Supporters took to social media, while leaders sent bulk messages so that people cast their ballots.
  • Leaders provided transport to voters.

Voter turnout was low across Nakuru, Narok, Samburu and Laikipia counties by Thursday afternoon.

But electoral officers told the Nation that there was a false sense of a low voter turnout because the process was faster compared to the August 8 General Election in which Kenyans voted for leaders for six different posts.

DOWNPOUR

On Thursday, Jubilee leaders resorted to mobilise voters as the clock ticked to 5pm when stations were to close.

National Super Alliance (Nasa) agents kept off polling stations across the counties.

In Nakuru, Jubilee supporters took to social media groups expressing disappointment over the low turnout and urging residents to vote.

A downpour started at 1 pm and it was feared it would interfere with the turnout.

In Njoro, area MP Charity Kathambi and other local leaders hired matatus, motorcycles and private vehicles to ferry people with disability, the elderly and the sick to polling stations to vote.

SECURITY

Ms Kathambi voted at Kimugul polling station in Mauche ward at 11.30am.

Local leaders were using all means, including sending bulk text messages, to mobilise Jubilee supporters to vote.

Security agents downplayed reports of leaflets in Njoro town warning Nasa supporters against going to any polling station.

A number of polling stations in the constituency were deserted by mid-day and according to Laikipia West Returning Officer John Kinyua, a majority of voters had already cast their ballots.

BALLOT

“Most residents have already cast their votes. Some have gone back to their homes while others have gone to open their businesses. We are, however, still expecting more voters to turn up before the close of the day,” said the electoral officer.

In Sossian ward, Laikipia North Constituency, many polling stations had recorded zero turnout by 1 pm.

Residents attributed it to raids and counter raids on Wednesday night and the heavy rains on the same night.

“The Wednesday night raids by bandits and counter raids in the area made residents not to come out and vote due to fear of being attacked thus affecting the voter turnout,” a resident, Mr John Ekoli, told the Nation.

Laikipia North Constituency returning officer Mr Gacheru Mbogo said the exercise was progressing well in other polling stations.

ELDERLY

In Narok, youths kept off polling stations while many older people voted. The queues were shorter than in the August poll.

At Nkareta Primary School in Narok North, no one had voted more than an hour after the station opened.

By midday, less than 100 people had voted at Empash Primary School in Narok East Constituency, and only 15 people had cast their ballot at Limanet Primary School in Narok North Constituency.

Nominated MP David Ole Sankok voted at Ole Sankale Primary School and later moved from station to station urging residents to vote.

“We are reaching out to people still in their homes who are Jubilee supporters to turn up and vote,” the MP said.

TURNOUT

In the morning, most polling stations in Narok North had no more than 10 voters in the queues, a stark contradiction to August 8 when long queues had formed by 5am.

At Molo Polytechnic, Presiding officer Eunice Nelima downplayed said it was too early to conclude on the turnout or call it voter apathy.

 “By 10am, a quarter of the voters had already voted and more are expected to turn up. If the turnout was low, then the polling stations would be empty by now,” she noted.

There was an improved voter turnout at Free Area Social Hall in Nakuru Town East Constituency after Governor Lee Kinyanjui sent out a passionate plea to residents to turn out in large numbers to vote. Earlier, few people were at voting centres.

NO VIOLENCE

Speaking at Crater Primary School in Nakuru Town East where he cast his vote, the governor said boycotting elections would not solve the political and social economic challenges in the country.

"I urge Nakuru residents to turn out in large numbers and vote because there is no single incidence of violence recorded in Nakuru County," Mr Kinyanjui said.

He said additional vehicles had been dispatched to Nairobi to transport stranded residents.

Former Nakuru Governor Mr Kinuthia Mbugua termed process flawless.

“The peace in Molo town has eased the work of the IEBC officials on the ground,” he said at Tayari Primary School in Molo Constituency where he cast his vote.

BE CALM

Former Nakuru Woman Representative Mary Mbugua urged Nasa supporters to be calm and desist from causing violence.

“The protests witnessed in Kisumu, Homa Bay and Siaya are painting a bad picture of our country overseas,” she noted.

At the Naivasha Maximum Security Prison, registered Nasa supporters kept away.

However, majority of the 236 registered inmates took part in the exercise, saying it was a rare opportunity and a constitutional right.

"It was a chance for me to show the whole world that I value a right accorded to me by the Constitution," said an inmate, Mr Raphael Okuyu.

IMPASSE

He lamented that the current political impasse had started to affect them, citing the customary presidential pardon for petty offender during national holidays.

"We also want to enjoy a chance of shaping the destiny of our country," added Mr Okuyu.

He said they did not have a problem with their counterparts who declined to vote, saying it was their democratic right.

In Gilgil, area MP Martha Wangari said voting in the constituency as flawless.

"Save for the occasional showers that is keeping people away from the polling stations, we have little to complain about," she said.

PATIENT

In Njoro, voters came out in their numbers and waited patiently in queues for their turn to vote.

"The exercise has been smooth since it kicked off in the morning. We have not witnessed any hitches," said Mr John Njenga, an IEBC official at Njoro DEB Primary School.

 

Report by Eric Matara, George Sayagie, Godfrey Oundoh, Joseph Openda, Lamech Willy, Linet Amuli, Macharia Mwangi, Magdalene Wanja, Reitz Mureithi, Steve Njuguna and Waikwa Maina