Several top political candidates across the country were unable to vote at their polling stations after some of the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kits failed to capture their data.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, August 6, Nairobi Woman Representative, Esther Passaris, who is seeking to defend her seat, noted that she was unable to vote in her leaders of choice after the kit at her station failed.
She noted that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials were delaying in acquiring the replacement hence affecting many voters.
"From the polling station I went to, I was unable to vote because the KIEMS kit was not working and they had not brought the replacement.
"They are also not using the manual register. Many of our supporters have not voted because the kits have failed," stated a seemingly angry Passaris.
Roots Party presidential candidate, George Luchiri Wajackoyah, was also unable to cast his vote after the KIEMS kit at a Matungu polling station failed to detect his details.
The Presidential candidate alleged foul play arguing that all the other candidates had been allowed to vote and only his stronghold was experiencing KIEMS kits hitch.
"The kits are not working. This is my stronghold and people have not voted since morning. In the entire Kakamega County, I am told that people have not voted. I have been around several polling station and I have told (supporters) to cool down.
"I am disappointed because if the opinion polls were saying 2 per cent, maybe they meant it. Why my strongholds? Why should we vote for the Presidential election if I am the only one who has not voted? Raila, Mwaure and Ruto have voted. Why couldn't they test the kit?" Questioned Wajackoyah.
In Mathira, Kenya Kwanza presidential running mate, Rigathi Gachagua, voted later than usual following a delay brought about by the KIEMS kit that temporarily failed to identify him
The politician eventually voted after rubbing his finger with a handkerchief following several failed attempts at the station.
In an address to the press, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga admitted that Azimio la Umoja One Kenya anticipated the KIEMS hitch hence demand in the use of a manual register.
"Just as we suspected some people cannot be identified biometrically and they have to refer to the manual register. Unfortunately, some of those who opposed it could not also be identified," Raila explained.
Ida Odinga, on the other hand, raised an alarm over misplacement of some voters whose details were captured in different polling stations from where they had initially registered.
"I have got calls from many people whose names have been misplaced. A person who was supposed to vote in Nairobi found out that his name is in Suna West which is in Migori county. How is he going to get there at this time?" She questioned.
At the beginning of July, Raila had threatened to boycott the elections if the manual register was not to be used throughout the exercise.
Raila, at the time, challenged IEBC to embrace both manual and electronic voter registers insisting that both registers must be accessible due to alleged attempts to sabotage. The High Court later ruled paving way for the use of a manual register. However, the decision was overturned by the Court of Appeal.
