Jubilee party candidate former Harambee Stars forward McDonald Mariga has pledged to fight for Kenyans who are living abroad to be allowed to cast their votes in future elections if he is elected the next member of parliament for Kibra.
Mr Mariga used himself as an example, saying that he never got the opportunity to participate in the democratic process because he was abroad playing football.
He contended that Kenyans in the diaspora should be allowed to vote because they are bonafide Kenyans.
"Those of us who have stayed abroad, we were never given the opportunity to cast our votes. When I am elected into parliament, I will fight for those who are abroad to be given the opportunity to vote and to represent Kenya (Sisi tuliosihi nchi za nje, hatujapatiwa fursa ya kupiga kura au kusajiliwa. Nikiingia bungeni, nitapigania wanaoishi nchi za nje wapate nafasi ya kupiga kura na kuwakilisha Kenya)," he said.
The residents of Kibra flocked to polling stations today (Thursday) to cast their ballots so as to determine who will be the constituency's next parliamentarian.
The seat was declared vacant by the speaker of the National Assembly after the death of former member of parliament Ken Okoth, who died after battling with cancer.
Kibra is an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) stronghold having been represented by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for over two decades.