Residents of Kibra Constituency in Nairobi have begun casting their ballots in the highly-anticipated parliamentary by-election.
Long queues could be seen early Thursday morning in several polling stations across the five wards as polls opened at 6 am.
The by-election, set to pick MP to replace the late Ken Okoth who died on July 26, 2019, has been largely cast as a rehearsal of the 2022 General Election and pits Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga against Deputy President William Ruto.
Both leaders pulled all stops in their campaigns for their respective candidates, McDonald Mariga (Jubilee Party) and Imran Okoth (ODM), who fighting it out in a crowded field of 24 candidates.
Other candidates in the race include Eliud Owalo (ANC), Khamisi Butichi (Ford Kenya) Martin Andati (Modern Alliance Party), Felix Anditi (Independent), Ibrahim Kimorko (Roots Party) and Kassim Abdul (The New Democrats).
Others are Editar Ochieng’ (Ukweli Party), Titus Mutinda (Republican Liberty Party), Fridah Kerubo (Independent), Mathew Musyoka (Independent) Jared Nyakundi (National Liberal Party) and Elijah Nyamwamu of Narc Kenya.
Emmanuel Owiti (Green Congress), David Odanga (Independent), Isaac Ogongo (Justice and Freedom party) and Francisco Ojiambo (Party of Democratic Unity) are also in the race.
Other candidates are Shedrack Omondi (Independent), Shem Ocharo (Mungano), Abraham Okoth (Independent) Hamida Musa (United Green Movement) and Noah Migudo (Independent).
Kibra Constituency has five wards, namely, Sarang’ombe, Woodley/Kenyatta Golf Course, Makina, Laini Saba and Lindi.
In a special gazette notice on Wednesday, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said the commission had concluded the revision of Kibra constituency voters’ register and confirmed that we have 118,658 people listed on the roll.
