By Nation Africa
Deputy President William Ruto says he was at the polling station early because he did not want to be an inconvenience to his neighbors.
Speaking after casting his ballot at 6am at Kosachei Primary School in Turbo Constituency, Dr Ruto said because of his stature, and political clout he felt voting during the day would become an unnecessary inconvenience to those who would be in the lines.
Dr Ruto arrived at just 2 minutes before the polling stations were opened, accompanied by his wife Rachel Ruto.
“Everybody here wants a peaceful process. Our prayer before voting was about having a peaceful election. I am also delighted that this historic election will usher a new era for the country. I want to urge for a peaceful process,” he said.
There was a brief moment of anxiety at Mugumo Primary School in Gichugu Constituency when Azimio la Umoja running mate Martha Karua’s name could not be identified by the KIEMS kit.
Ms Karua was at the polling station, which is only a short distance from her rural home, when it opened at 6.00 am. However, it turned out that Ms Karua had been directed to Stream III at the polling station whereas her voter details were in Stream I.
She was finally given her ballot papers at 6.10 am and proceeded to the voting booth. Afterwards, Ms Karua called on Kenyans to turn out in big numbers to vote for the leaders they wish to lead them for the next five years.
“It’s a slow start but okay,” she said after casting her ballot. Ms Karua called on Kenyans to turn out in big numbers and vote. “Today is our day. Get out and vote. I feel confident. I have a good feeling about today.”
Residents braved the early morning rain and cold where the temperature was 11 degrees Centigrade. Queues started forming as early as 5.00 am. Dressed in blue jeans, a heavy black jacket, a blue scarf and a cream beanie, Ms Karua was given the first priority to vote after which she immediately left for Nairobi.
Locals expressed joy at having one of their own gunning for the second most powerful seat in the country.
“I had to walk through the mud just to come and make my voice count,” Dan Gachoki told Nation.
Polls open in Kenya General Election
Polling Stations have opened across the country as Kenyans start voting in a hotly contested election.
Some 22,120,458 voters spread across the 290 constituencies and 46,229 polling centres are registered to vote in an election that has seen the highest number of candidates since independence.
Four presidential candidates is the smallest number since the return of the multiparty system in 1992, but there are a record 2,132 aspirants eyeing the 290 National Assembly seats and another 12,994 seeking the 1,450 County Assembly (MCA) positions.
Some 340 candidates have been cleared to vie for 47 Senate seats, with 266 seeking gubernatorial positions in the 47 counties, and another 359 eyeing the 47 Woman Representative seats in the National Assembly.
*Written by Onyango K’Onyango and David Muchunguh
