Kamukunji voters go to polls today

By Vitalis Kimutai
This morning 128,526 voters in Kamukunji constituency elect their MP after more than six months of waiting.
All 142 polling stations in the constituency open at 6am and close at 5pm, the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) said.
It is a high stakes political contest between Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, as voters go into another city by-election.
Pollsters cite the two as the main contenders for the presidential race next year. This explains the flurry of campaigns for their party candidates. Raila this week led a party campaign team to drum up support for ODM candidate, Ibrahim Ahmed alias Johnny.
The candidate has spent the last two weeks telling his supporters to vote for him and ODM, as a warm up for bigger things after the General Election.

Electoral officials inspect voting materials moments after arrival at Shauri Moyo Social Hall, Wednesday. [PHOTO: MOSES OMUSULA/STANDARD]

Raila led a team that included Cabinet ministers Fred Gumo and James Orengo to rally support for the ODM candidate.
The ODM campaign team has also continuously drummed up the unity card, telling voters the party would unite them.
But Yusuf Hassan of PNU told The Standard the outcome of Kamukunji would point to Uhuru Kenyatta’s future, as a presidential aspirant who could garner votes countrywide.
He urged PNU supporters to come out in large numbers for this titanic battle with ODM’s Johnny. "It’s Uhuru versus Raila in Kamukunji," he said.
Pointer to 2012 patternA team comprising G-7 leaders Uhuru and Eugene Wamalwa teamed up with Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, PNU chairman George Saitoti, and Environment minister John Michuki to campaign for Yusuf in the last day of campaigns.
Raila, Kalonzo, and Uhuru have indicated during the campaigns the outcome of the by-election would point to the voting pattern in 2012 General Election.
It is a position Hassan reinforced in his campaigns, and during an interview with The Standard.
"There is no question about it. This election will indicate how the General Election is going to go. We are confident in PNU that we have run a good race. We shall deliver the seat," Hassan said.
Johnny, on his part said, "I’m the candidate to beat in this by-election. I’m confident that ODM would win."
But Narc-Kenya’s Brian Weke said, "This is not about 2012 elections. This is about the people of Kamukunji and their issues."
Muthoni Kihara, the GNU candidate said, "People from outside Kamukunji have this misconception that the by-election has a bearing on 2012 presidential elections. The two are different."
Agano party’s David Waihiga said he was the people’s candidate and voters had assured him of their votes.
Stations readyJoseph Masindet, the returning officer, said 916 officials, including the presiding officer, his deputy, and clerks had been deployed for the by-election in 23 polling stations.
"We are set for the by-election and all the materials have been delivered to the polling centres, with 284 police officers posted to the centres," Masindet told The Standard at the Shauri Moyo tallying centre.
Masindet said the candidates and their agents had been briefed on election rules, and they risk being disqualified for breach.
The election has been billed as a fight between ODM, PNU Alliance and Narc-Kenya, fighting to control Nairobi politics.
Supporters intimidatedThe seat fell vacant after the High Court nullified the election of former MP, Simon Mbugua, in January, over irregularities.
Other candidates are Geoffrey Mutuku (Tip), Daniel Omao (Ford-People), and James Matagaro of the Kenya Social Congress.
Wednesday, the candidates were meetings with their agents in preparation for the vote.
Weke claimed his supporters were being intimidated. He said that 10 of them had been arrested over allegations they were campaigning after the exercise was closed.
"The police are claiming that my supporters were pasting posters on walls hours after the campaigns were closed. It is a scheme to intimidate me and my supporters," Weke claimed.
He further claimed that the police had for the last two weeks failed to act on complaints he raised over alleged defacing and pulling down of his posters by agents of his rivals.
"I am a very worried man. I am not sure if the by-election would be free and fair, as IIEC seem to have been compromised," he claimed.
Weke further claimed that he had information some of his rivals had stationed 25 agents outside polling stations to bribe voters.
But Masindet denied that IIEC officials had been compromised, saying the by-election would be free and fair. He said those found engaging in malpractices would be penalised.