Today's Headlines
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Wycliff Kipsang
4 August 2010
Nairobi — Voting at a polling station in Marakwet was delayed for two hours after an election official collapsed and died minutes to the opening of the centre.
Mr Christopher Rotich, 40, who was the presiding officer at Kiplabai Primary School in Marakwet West District, had complained of chest pains as he headed to the station with election materials.
He was taken to Kapsowar Mission Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Voting started after area Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) coordinator John Ekonit picked another officer to oversee the process.
"The exercise is now going on smoothly despite the unfortunate death of our official," said deputy presiding officer Florence Jepkosgei.
At Kapsowar Primary School polling station where area MP Boaz Kaino voted, 551 of the registered 1,029 voters had turned up by 11.30am. The constituency has 34,308 voters with 122 polling stations.
In Baringo Central, some residents were barred from voting after they turned up with the defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) cards. The cases were reported at Kasoiyo and Kitumbei polling stations.
"Most of the voters were also not conversant with voting procedures and they had to be assisted," said Mr Job Cheserem, the presiding officer at Kitumbei.
Baringo Central MP Sammy Mwaita cast his vote at Kitumbei and commended IIEC for good organisation. "We have not seen any cases of irregularities as was witnessed in the 2007 General Election," Mr Mwaita said.
His predecessor, Mr Gideon Moi, voted at Tandui polling station, Sacho. Inmates at Kabarnet Prison voted without a hitch.
The prison's boss, Mr Barnabas Kinyor, said the inmates were excited to take part in the exercise following a court ruling that enfranchised them.
