The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party nominations kicked off on Thursday, April 14, in 36 counties with the officials assuring aspirants that the process would be free and fair.
UDA will use the primaries to pick aspirants who will face off with other contenders in the August 9 General Election.
In a statement released by UDA National Elections Board (NEB) chair, Anthony Mwaura, the party has designated 15,000 polling stations, 75,000 ballot boxes, 47 county returning officers, and 200 constituency returning officers to oversee the whole process.
In addition, it has deployed 21,000 presiding officers and 52,000 poll clerks.
Kenyans.co.ke will keep you updated on a minute-by-minute basis as the day unfolds. Keep refreshing this page for updates.
6:13: UDA elections board issued a statement detailing that the nomination exercise was 99.7 per cent successful. The board noted that the in areas where the exercise kicked off without disruptions there will be no extension of the voting time.
5:06: Starehe MP reportedly chased away from one of the polling stations in the ongoing UDA primaries where he is seeking to defend his seat.
4:58: Bobasi MP aspirant Lucas Mogoa has been arrested over allegations of stealing ballot boxes during the ongoing UDA nominations in Kisii.
The incident was confirmed by area OCPD Kipkemoi Kipkulei noting that they are still investigating the matter. The aspirant however denied the allegations.
4:21: UDA has summoned three aspirants following the witnesses that were witnessed in the ongoing nomination exercise. According to Senator Kithure, UDA disciplinary committee has summoned Joe Muchiri Nyagah who is a gubernatorial aspirant in Embu county, Norman King'ang'i, an aspiring senator in Embu county, and Embu woman aspirant Lorna Kariuki.
They are supposed to appear before the committee on Saturday, April 16.
"The disciplinary committee has summoned Joe Muchiri Nyagah, Norman Nyagah, and Lorna Kariuki. We have also received reports that there have been cases of misconduct in Pangani and they are also being investigated."
3:50: UDA NEB chairperson Anthony Mworia has confirmed the incident that happened at Kabaldamet village in Marakwet East where one person was killed and four others left nursing injuries.
"In Marakwet East constituency, the exercise was delayed because of a banditry attack where one person died."
3:25: Nominated MP and Bomet senatorial hopeful Wilson Sossion urges voters to stay close to polling stations to man their votes.
"I want to urge voters to stay close to polling stations to ensure there is no rigging."
3:18: Elgeyo Marakwet Deputy Governor Wesly Rotich has condemned the killing of one person at Kabaldamet village in Marakwet East in a suspected banditry attack. The bandits reportedly attacked the residents who were going to vote in the ongoing UDA nominations. The incident left fours others nursing injuries.
2:36: Operations and nomination exercises were brought to a halt after residents staged protests over delays in the opening of several polling stations in Nakuru county. A contingent of police officers was specifically deployed to the Railway polling station which experienced a six-hour delay in UDA party primaries.
2:22: UDA primaries in four Narok South constituency wards were called off after angry residents blocked the release of voting materials claiming a plot to rig for one of the aspirants.
Supporters accused one aspirant of placing his cronies on the list of presiding officers.
1:46: Four UDA aspirants staged a walkout, demanding polling clerks and presiding officers in Nakuru Railway station be replaced.
1:34: In Kwale, Ramisi Ward UDA aspirants have protested the issuing of a direct ticket to one of the contenders. One of the contenders complained that she was only called at night and informed that the nomination exercise will not take place. Only three counties are taking part in the nomination process in that area.
13:25: Makunga Secondary school polling station in Mumias moved to a nearby market as the principal was unreachable on phone to open the station.
12:53: UDA nomination exercise in Mount Elgon and Kakamega was postponed to Friday, April 15 due to logistical challenges.
12:29: Deputy President William Ruto urges UDA supporters to be patient over what he termed as minor logistical challenges.
"Voting in the 36 counties proceeding smoothly after the minor logistical challenges were dealt with. Congratulations to all our 5000 aspirants for being patient & peaceful. 888 elective seats being contested. 49,811 election officials in 16,513 polling centers engaged."
12:19: Drama witnessed in one polling station in Kericho after Senator Samson Cherargei attempted to skip the long queue to cast his vote. He was forced to queue like other voters.
12:07: UDA aspirants for the gubernatorial seat who have been nominated unopposed include: former senator Hassan Omar who is going for Mombasa top county seat, Fatuma Mohamed Achani (Kwale), current Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi), Tuneya Hussein Dado (Tana Tiver county), John Mtuta(Taita Taveta) and Mohamed Barrow (Garissa).
11:14: Tharaka Nithi senator Kithure Kindiki read the riot act to all UDA aspirants urging them to shun all forms of disruption and violence during the nomination exercise. He noted that any aspirant found guilty will be disqualified and if investigations ascertain the claims, the member is eligible for suspension and even expulsion from the party.
"As a party, we abhor violence, intimidation, and obstruction of democracy that is well-espoused in the party's constitution, nomination rules, and the code of conduct for aspirants and party members."
11:05: UDA addressed the issue of ballot paper marking and irregularities in Bomet and other parts of the country.
Addressing the press, the UDA Elections Board chairperson Anthony Mwaura insisted that mop up exercise has been conducted in Bomet and primaries have since begun. He further dismissed rigging claims explaining that ballot papers have distinct features that cannot be manipulated.
"Allegations of fake ballot papers are rumors; our ballot papers are peculiar, they have the watermark and serial numbers and nobody can give evidence they have been found anywhere," Mwaura remarked.
10:53: Voting exercise halted in Baringo Central after 22 polling stations reported the lack of registers of UDA members.
10:39: Soy MP Caleb Kositany blames the fuel crisis in the country for the delayed nomination process in Uasin Gishu County.
"We have had delays in several polling stations and as you know we have a fuel crisis in this country and of course, the UDA party is trying to work perfectly as possible," Kositany stated.
He added, " where we have had delays, we shall ask for an extension of voting hours also bearing in mind that today is a working day."
10:31: Kandara MP Alice Wahome gets a direct ticket after her seat failed to attract any other UDA aspirant.
10:29: Nomination exercise halted in Kuresoi South over missing ballot boxes.
9:55: Chaos erupted in Biashara Ward, Nakuru County following allegations that one of the aspirants had been given a direct ticket without participating in the ongoing primaries.
9:49: Police apprehend a man on allegations of double voting at Al-Huda polling station, Kajiado.
9:30: UDA party primaries in Turkana postponed to April 19. This is after it emerged that the center had insufficient poll materials.
9:00: Despite earlier cases of burning of ballot papers in Embu, the Elgeyo Marakwet Senator who is overseeing the primaries in the region assured aspirants of a fair and free exercise.
"The UDA nominations are going on well. There was a small incident yesterday which has captured the public attention but the reality is that these elections are peaceful," Murkomen stated.
8:30: Bomet Women Representative, Joyce Korir, in a near fist fight with Senate aspirant Hillary Sigei. Joyce engaged Sigei after allegations of ballot papers marking before the start of the nomination exercise at Tenwek High School.
8:00: Nomination exercise in Bomet County marred with controversies as some aspirants claim that some ballot papers were pre-marked.
The aspirants urged UDA national officials to call off the exercise and address the issue of marked ballot papers.
Some aspirants stated that some presiding officers took ballot papers to their homes and pre-marked them before the exercise.
Aspirants who raised complaints include gubernatorial hopeful John Mosonik, Senate aspirant Wilson Sossion, and Bomet Central MP hopeful, Joyce Korir.
