Dr Robert Ouko primary school polling station in Kisumu West constituency, in Kisumu County, October 26, 2017. [Photo|Shalton Omolo]Voting had not started in Kisumu county, as at 9am, Thursday.Most of the polling stations in several areas were shut, such as Dr Robert Ouko primary school, in Kisumu West constituency, and showed no signs of being opened for the exercise.Those few polling stations that were opened, remained deserted as voters were nowhere to be seen.Kisumu Central Returning Officer John Ngutai said only three of his 400 staff had shown up for the exercise.He also said there was no security to deliver ballot boxes.At Kondele, youth lit bonfires, chanting anti-October elections slogans, saying nobody should go to the polling stations.They engaged the police in running battles, forcing them to shoot in the air, and lobe teargas canisters to disperse themTransport operations especially in Kisumu town remained paralysed, possibly in fear of the outcome. Not even boda boda operators would be seen.Shops remained closed, as residents stayed indoors.This comes even as area police commander and Acting Interior and Coordination Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i assured voters of heightened security, saying whoever wanted to vote, should do so.

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