Vote tallying underway in Nairobi by-elections

Counting of votes in the three parliamentary by-elections in Nairobi is underway after most polling stations closed at 5pm Monday evening

Here is the livetext report of the results of the tally as they come.

Earlier on in the day, voting had gone on smoothly, with some candidates making accusations of voter bribery.

The elections were marked by a low voter turnout. In 19 polling stations in Starehe constituency that Nation visited soon after voting period closed, voter turnout was at an average of 40 per cent.

In Makadara constituency, Returning Officer Florence Kwamboka said voting started smoothly in most polling stations in the constituency at 6 am.

Ms Kwamboka, however, said turnout was low but was expected to improve later as working class sought permission to go and vote.

She added that there were a few cases of “accusations and counter-accusations” by the candidates but did not affect the exercise.

“There have been accusations and counteraccusations of vote buying and bribery but we have not been able to prove that. However, we are in touch with the police and we shall act if we get a culprit,” she said.

Polls closed at exactly 5pm in most polling centres in the constituency except Bidii Primary School which has the highest number of registered voters in the constituency, according to Ms Kwamboka.

“A number of voters streamed in (at Bidii) just before time but I have got confirmation from other stations that they have closed,” she said.

In Starehe constituency, there were no queues in all polling stations that the Nation team visited between the starting time 6.00am and midday on Monday.

Starehe constituency has 135,394 registered voters and had more than nine aspirants. The seat fell vacant after a successful election petition by Mr Maina Kamanda who is now vying on a Party of National Unity (PNU) ticket.

The main candidates for the seat including the former MP Bishop Margaret Wanjiru and Narc Kenya's Jackson Mwangi, who is a first time candidate, had all cast their votes by midday.

In the vast Juja constituency, there was also the traditional low voter turnout in by-elections but most notable was the speed and efficiency at which voting was conducted.

Returning officer Bernard Kimani said reports of the bribery there had been made to the Interim Independent Electoral Commission and would be investigated and action taken against the offenders.

Aspirants for the Juja were business magnates William Kabogo and Alice Ng’ang’a, and former Government Chief Whip George Thuo, who has shares in City Hoppa, the Nairobi urban transport company.

Other candidates were Stephen Ndicho (Agano Party), Charles Muchai (Democratic Party), Jackson Ngoima (National Alliance Party of Kenya), Dick Githaiga (ODM), Francis Gaitho (Safina) and David Kigwe (Farmers Party).

Mary Kirika of ODM-Kenya threw in the towel at the eleventh hour and said she was supporting Mr Thuo.