The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has raised two major concerns over the 2017 General Election ballot papers that are being printed by Dubai-based Al Ghurair Fim.
First, the IEBC is concerned that due to the length of ballot papers, voters will spend longer hours voting as they scroll through the longest ballot papers in Kenya's elections history.
Second, the body is concerned that there will be a higher number of spoilt votes as some voters may experience difficulty locating their preferred candidates from the long lists.
Commissioner Roselyne Akombe, however, assured that the electoral body has taken contingency measures to counter the emerging crisis.
"We have consequently intensified our voter education targeting those areas with high number of candidates so we can educate and prepare voters to handle the ballot and pick their candidates," the commissioner told The Standard.
According to the official list of candidates vying in the upcoming election, the longest ballot paper will be for the Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Borabi Chitago Ward in Kisii County where 33 aspirants are contesting for the seat.
Ekerenyo Ward in Nyamira County and Gesusu Ward in Kisii will have the second and third longest ballot papers as 27 and 25 MCA candidates battle it out in the wards respectively.
Lang'ata onstituency in Nairobi will have the longest ballot for the parliamentary candidates with 17 aspirants contesting for the seat that was held by National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate Raila Odinga from 1992 to 2013.
Dagoretti North, Tetu, Webuye West Constituencies all have 16 candidates fighting for the seat while Mt Elgon and Bomachoge have 15 candidates each.
Kisii, Embu and Vihiga have 12 Woman Representative candidates each, the highest in the country.
Nyamira County is leading in the number of gubernatorial aspirants at nine and is closely followed by Nairobi, Taita Taveta and Kisii Counties where eight contestants eyeing the top county job.
