Voter bribery claims, low turnout as Kibra by-election gets underway

Voter bribery allegations and low turnout characterised scenes at some centres in the Kibra by-election on Thursday morning.

As queues continue to build up across polling stations, one person is reported to have escaped death by a whisker after irate members of the public threatened to lynch him over claims of voter bribery.

Police had a hard time trying to pacify the angry mob who were baying for the man’s blood outside Lindi Mosque polling station.

Some voters had alleged that the man identified as Anunda, who is now in police custody, was dishing out money on behalf of one of the candidates.

However, eyewitnesses at the mosque refuted the claims.

”Wanaangusha mzee chini na huyo mzee hana hata makosa,” one of them said.

”Mzee Anunda hana pesa anagawa,” another witness said.

Anunda had been accused of dishing out money from a car within the compound of the polling station.

Meanwhile, supporters from two warring factions traded accusations of voter bribery and poll sabotage.

This comes a day after the Observation Group raised concerns over the transfer of at least six polling stations in the Constituency, a move he said will inconvenience voters.

The by-election has been touted as one with high-stakes particularly between two contenders who are widely believed to be front runners in the race.