A batch of election material after it arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Air Port Monday evening. [Photo|nation.co.ke]
The first consignment of voting materials has arrived in Kisumu ahead of the October 26th repeat presidential polls.
The batch consisting of stamps, pens, inks and sisal twines were received on Sunday at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Offices in Kisumu.
Kisumu County Returning Officer, John Cox Lorionokou said that the next delivery containing ballot papers, ballot boxes, voter registers and result forms will be delivered between Tuesday and Wednesday before being distributed to the 1027 polling stations.
Cox said in preparation for the elections, the poll agency was still conducting training for Presiding Officers (POs), their Deputies (DPOs) among other electoral staff and the exercise was set to end on Tuesday.
He, however, said that fear was rife among the electoral staff revealing that a section of them had withdrawn their services owing to the current attacks unleashed on IEBC officials attending training sessions.
This he said had dealt a blow to the electoral body as it has seen the number of their work-force shrink.
“We may be compelled to consider other applicants who applied during the first recruitment exercise and they must be trained before the end of today,” he said.
So as not to interfere with students who will still be in schools that are set to be used as polling stations, Cox said the IEBC will pitch tents at strategic places where the electorate will cast their vote.
Kisumu County Police Commander John Kamau said that security was heightened and that his security team was keen at providing adequate security to electoral staff, voters and polling equipment.
He urged those who purpose to partake in the exercise to turn-up in their numbers while asking those who will not vote to desist from engaging in acts aimed at disenfranchising others.
Kamau warned that security agencies were on high alert and that anyone who will engage in criminal activities will be met with the full force of the law.