@robertomollo3
Homa Bay governor candidates Evans Kidero and Gladys Wanga have vowed to accept the outcome of the elections.
The two had engaged in a fierce campaign battle as they asked residents to vote for them.
During their campaigns, the two were confident of winning the seat.
This was a way of building confidence in their supporters.
After voting on Tuesday they were confident the elections would go on smoothly and enable IEBC officers to announce the genuine winner.
They said they would accept the results if the process remains credible.
Kidero remained hopeful the exercise which started at 6 am would go on smoothly without interference.
“I wish processes like counting, tallying and declaration of results are done well so that the person with the highest votes is declared the winner,” he said.
“We'll remain true to our earlier pronouncement of accepting the outcome of a free and fair exercise.”
Speaking to journalists after casting his ballot at Asumbi Mixed Primary School in Rangwe, Kidero who is seeking the seat as an independent candidate urged residents to turn up and exercise their democratic rights before the close of the day.
At the beginning of the exercise, there were hitches and delays at several polling stations when the Kiems kits were unable to identify voters. But the problem was addressed and the voting process picked up.
Delays were also witnessed due to the low speed of clearing the accreditation cards for different agents of candidates.
Kidero said the process was faster after the delays were addressed.
“We're happy IEBC officials managed to solve the problems and allowed the exercise to start. Let the officials conduct an exercise which is above board,” he said.
Wanga said she was satisfied with the way the election was being conducted.
She said she will accept the results if the process continues smoothly.
The ODM party candidate said she is confident of winning because of the vigorous campaigns they had mounted in Homa Bay.
“We were well prepared. Our agents are keen to ensure the exercise remains credible,” Wanga said.
The woman representative spoke after casting her vote at Alara Korayo Primary School in Kochia ward, Rangwe.
Wanga asked IEBC to resort to using manual voter identification after noting that some Kiems kits developed hitches.
She said some elderly people were put at bay because they could not be biometrically identified.
Mark Rabudi of UDA is also seeking to get elected as Homa Bay governor.
They want to succeed Governor Cyprian Awiti who is serving his second and last term.
Homa Bay has eight constituencies with 551,071 registered voters.
Rangwe parliamentary hopeful Erick K'Omollo also called for peaceful exercise to enable residents to turn up and cast their votes.
“Having a smooth and peaceful exercise is a sure way of achieving credible elections,” he said.
K'Omollo voted at Rabuor Ponge Primary School in East Gem ward.
He is running against the incumbent Lilian Gogo of ODM and former MP George Oner.
Others in the race are Alloys Rhodi and Omburo Odaje(Independents).
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
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