By NATION AFRICA

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Kenyans have started voting in the country’s repeat presidential election that the main oppositional coalition, the National Super Alliance (Nasa), has boycotted.

Voters, armed with their national identity cards, started streaming into polling stations as early as 5am on Thursday but voting centres officially opened at 6am.

Voting was delayed in some stations due to lack of agents to confirm that ballot boxes were empty, with some presiding officers using voters to make the confirmations.

In most of the affected stations, it was the opposition agents who were missing.

Rains, which have been pounding parts of East African country, also contributed to the delays in voting at some stations.

Security was beefed up in most polling stations located in perceived Nasa strongholds, with lorry-loads of police not taking chances.

Voters at Molo Secondary School polling stations queue as they wait to cast their vote on October 26, 2017. Voting begun at 6am and is ongoing smoothly. PHOTO | REITZ MUREITHI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

The heavy deployment is linked to fears that supporters of Nasa leader Raila Odinga, who pulled out of the repeat election citing refusal of the electoral commission to effect his suggested reforms, may attack stations.

Mr Odinga has since asked his supporters to keep off polling stations and streets, where they have protesting, after declaring that Nasa is no longer a political coalition but "a resistance movement".

Turnout

Voting in the six coast counties started on a low note, with fewer residents showing up at polling stations at 6am as compared to a similar time on August 8.

Although the residents in the predominantly Muslim region flocked mosques for prayers at 5am, most seemed not interested in voting.

Voters streaming in to vote at Wabera Primary school polling station in Isiolo town. PHOTO | VIVIAN JEBET | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Kilifi, Mombasa, Lamu and Taita Taveta counties in the southern areas recorded low turnout at the start of the poll that was ordered by the Supreme Court on September 1.

In some polling stations, no voter had turned out by 7am.

Hundreds had showed up to vote in most stations an hour into the voting on August 8 during Kenya's General Election, whose presidential poll was quashed by the country's apex court.

A voter casts ballot at St Peters Secondary School in Narok North Constituency on October 26, 2017. PHOTO | GEORGE SAYAGIE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Some polling stations in Tana River had a "good" number of people waiting to vote by 6am, according to presiding officers.

The weather was favourable in most parts of the Coast in the early morning despite the heavy rains that have been pounding the region.

Stations

Security was heightened in most of the polling stations, with police looking out for any troublemakers.

Lamu resident Mohamed Abdalla casting his vote at Lamu Fort polling station on October 26, 2017. PHOTO | KALUME KAZUNGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Mombasa, a perceived Nasa stronghold, it appeared most of the residents heeded their leaders' calls not to vote.

Only a few people were seen in most polling stations by 7am, with some centres not receiving a single voter, an hour into the voting.

Voters queuing at Mutomo Primary School in Gatundu. President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to vote at the polling centre on October 26, 2017. PHOTO | WANDERI KAMAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Mvita Constituency, which has the second-highest number of registered voters in the county after Kisauni, most voters had not turned up to participate in the exercise.

At Mombasa Inspectorate polling station, for instance, only four people turned out to vote by voter compared to the hundreds who had showed up by 6am on August 8.

At Star of the Sea Primary School polling centre, only about 15 people were seen at the centre by 7am.

A voter verifies his details at Ncuui Secondary School polling station in Tigania East Constituency on October 26, 2017. PHOTO | KEN BETT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Likoni constituency, most of the stations were deserted an hour into the voting.

At President Kenyatta’s polling centre Mutomo Primary School in Gatundu, Kiambu County, a few voters were present at the start of poll, a situation attributed to heavy rains and chilly weather.

Voters queuing at Nyeri Health Centre polling station in Nyeri town despite the chilly weather on October 26, 2017. PHOTO | GRACE GITAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By 6.20am, only a handful of voters had turned up in most polling centres in the area, compared to massive turnout witnessed on August 8.

But poll officials were optimistic residents would show up later once the rains subside and the weather becomes warmer.

Mr Kenyatta enjoys a fanatical following in central Kiambu and most counties in the Mount Kenya region.

The start of voting in most polling stations in Kakamega County was marked by a low turnout. Polling stations opened at 6am, with a handful of voters trickling in to cast their ballots.

Kakamega streets remained largely deserted with tight security being maintained at polling stations.

Rains

In Meru County, most polling stations opened at 6am, with few voters braving the early morning rains.

At St Mary's Immaculate polling centre in Imenti Central, only 10 voters had arrived when polling stations opened.

Mr Raymond Mutwiri, the presiding officer at Gitune Coffee Factory in South Imenti, said only 19 voters had voted by 7am.

In northern Wajir County, voting in some centres started late with only two voters arriving at Wajir High School polling station by 7am.

County returning officer Patrick Gatuma said voting materials were yet to arrive in some polling stations in Wajir South and Wajir West due to the heavy rains on Wednesday night in parts of the county.

In Marsabit, voting began late due to a heavy downpour.

Hope

A spot check by the Nation showed that fewer people turned out to vote compared to August 8.

In Isiolo, very few voters came out early to vote despite polling stations opening in time.

Mr Abdul Bahari Ali Jillo, who was a governor candidate in Isiolo in the August election, voted at Wabera Primary School polling station.

He said voting was going on smoothly.

Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo cast her ballot and said the voting was peaceful.

She said she hoped for a high turn out during the day.

Reported by Mohamed Ahmed, Lucy Mkanyika, Galgalo Bocha, Kazungu Samuel, Brian Ocharo, Kalume Kazungu, Diana Mutheu, Benson Amadala, David Muchui, Isabel Githae, Bruhan Makong, Vivian Jebet, Irene Mwendwa and Eunice Murathe.

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