Voting is underway across the country as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) oversees by-elections in 22 electoral areas. Polling stations officially opened at 6:00am, marking the start of a critical electoral process that the commission says has been carefully planned to ensure efficiency, security, and transparency.
According to IEBC guidelines, polling will run uninterrupted until 5:00pm. Importantly, all voters who join the queue by closing time will be allowed to cast their ballots—an approach aimed at safeguarding every eligible Kenyan’s democratic right.
Election officials noted that any time lost due to technical issues, delays in opening, or unavoidable disruptions will be fully compensated. This means polling stations will extend operations to recover lost time, ensuring no voter is disadvantaged.
IEBC confirmed that all election materials, polling staff, and security personnel were dispatched to their respective centres ahead of schedule. Teams arrived early, set up their stations, and remained on-site overnight to guarantee a prompt start to voting.
Security has also been heightened across all voting areas. According to IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon, each polling station is manned by a minimum of two security officers, while additional teams are conducting mobile patrols and rapid response operations. This joint effort with the National Police Service is designed to maintain a peaceful and orderly voting environment.
The commission has urged citizens to report any concerns or incidents through official security channels, reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability throughout the electoral process.
As polling continues through the day, the IEBC insists that it remains fully prepared to manage the by-elections efficiently, both in urban centres and remote rural polling stations. Today’s exercise once again puts the commission’s logistical and administrative capacity to the test and IEBC says it is ready.
