All is set for the 2022 General Elections in Kericho County, where a total of 428,067 registered voters are expected to cast their votes from their respective polling stations in six constituencies namely Kipkelion East, Kipkelion West, Ainamoi, Bureti, Belgut, and Soin-Sigowet.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has confirmed that all the election materials have arrived in the County and officials are working round the clock on the last-minute final touches as the election preparedness nears homestretch, just to ensure all systems work efficiently during the Tuesday crucial national exercise.
Speaking to the media on Monday, the Ainamoi Constituency IEBC Returning Officer, Mr. Mbugua Kuria, confirmed that it is all systems go and all the IEBC personnel conducting the elections have been rigorously trained and equipped to conduct the exercise with excellence and integrity.
Mr. Mbugua further intimated that there are 175 polling stations in Ainamoi Constituency, including two prisons where inmates will have a chance to exercise their democratic rights by voting for the President only.
“Apart from the two prisons that will only receive the president ballots, the other 173 polling stations will be five ballot papers with the exception of the County Woman of National Assembly, who was unopposed and has, therefore, been gazetted.” Mr. Mbugua explained.
“Otherwise, we are on -course, we have received all the materials and we are ready to start conducting the voting exercise, Tuesday 9th August 2022, at the scheduled time,” he added.
Data from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) indicates that the total number of registered voters per constituency in Kericho County include; Kipkelion East Constituency – 63,679 Kipkelion West – 52,960, Ainamoi – 85,024, Bureti – 95,320, Belgut – 75,175 and Soin/Sigowet – 55,909.
According to IEBC, registered voters will be required to produce Identity Cards or ID passports at their designated polling stations for them to be able to vote.
Meanwhile, the Kericho County Commissioner, Mr. Kamau Karungo, has assured all residents of Kericho County of their security during the electioneering period, expressing confidence that the County will not be a hotspot for electoral violence, saying that residents from various tribes have cohesively integrated and embraced reconciliation.
By Kibe Mburu and Joan Chelangat
