This archive report was first published on 7 November 2019.
As night fell on Kibra Constituency, residents gathered outside polling stations, eagerly awaiting the results of the by-election. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had earlier announced that voter tallying would begin once the polls closed.
According to the IEBC, the Returning Officer would consolidate the results on all form 35A into form 35B, declare the winner, and issue them with a certificate. However, the electoral agency clarified that electronic transmission of results only applies to presidential elections.
ODM's John Mbadi, the party chairman, was seen on the ground moments before polling stations closed. He commended police and supporters who were on high alert and condemned voter bribery, terming it 'barbaric.'
As the tallying process began, ODM's Bernard Imran Okoth and Jubilee's McDonald Mariga, the two front runners, remained hopeful of emerging victorious. The by-election, which attracted 24 candidates, was sparked by the death of MP Ken Okoth in July after a protracted battle with cancer.
With over 118,000 registered voters in Kibra, the constituency has five wards – Makina, Laini Saba, Sarang'ombe, Woodley/Kenyatta Golf Course, and Lindi. The voting process had a smooth start, but a low voter turnout was reported, with many residents citing their low-income status and work commitments as reasons for not voting.
