Kenyans brazed the chilly Tuesday morning to vote in crucial elections as outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta prepares to hand over power.
According to the Kenyan Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), about 22 million Kenyans registered to vote. In most polling centers, voters started queuing as early as 2 am before the polls opened at 6 am, according to local media.
Four candidates have been cleared by the electoral body to run for the presidency. Deputy President William Ruto, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Roots Party candidate George Wajackoyah, and lawyer and minister David Mwaure Waihiga are in the race to replace President Uhuru Kenyatta as the country’s fifth president.
The stakes are high in this election as analysts say the race is close and if no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, the election will go into a run-off for the first time in Kenyan history.
According to opinion polls, the presidential race is considered a two-horse race between Deputy President William Ruto, 55, and veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, 77.
Voting is said to be generally peaceful and smooth despite some delays and problems with the electronic kit in some parts of the country.
According to the IEBC, just over 30% of the voters had cast their vote by noon local time.
Voters are selecting a president, governors, senators, members of the national assembly, and local county representatives.
Security is beefed across the country to ensure the peaceful running of the elections.
Polls are expected to close by 5 pm and thereafter vote counting begins.