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The Ganda Ward by-election in Malindi constituency recorded a high voter turn out today despite heavy rains in the area in the last two days.

Hundreds of voters braved the rains and flooded roads to reach polling stations amidst heavy presence of police in the wake of chaos that led to the killing of an ODM supporter on Tuesday.

Tension remained high at Pendukiani village where the man was shot dead during chaos that led to arrest of Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa on Tuesday evening.

Ganda Ward has 16,632 registered voters, 12 polling centres and 30 polling stations. Voting ended at 5pm in most polling centres without any major incident.

Four candidates

Four candidates Reuben Katana of ODM, Abdulrahman Omar (Independent), Joseph Kiponda (Jubilee party) and Kadu Asili’s David Mitsanze took part in the contest.

Katana voted at Pendukiani polling station at 9.40am and expressed confidence of victory. He was satisfied with the turn out.

A spot check by People Daily at the polling stations showed the exercise went on smoothly with a heavy presence of security personnel.

At Takaye Primary School which is the tallying centre, Returning Officer Juma Musa said the exercise begun on time in all the polling stations despite the heavy rains.

“We are excited by the turn out,” he said.

The exercise started smoothly. All the 30 polling stations in the 16 centres opened on time and we hope the exercise will not experience any hurdles as the day progresses,” Musa told journalists at the Takaye Primary School tallying centre.

Kilifi North Member of Parliament Owen Baya of ODM who visited the main tallying centre said the party was optimistic of clinching the seat.

“I want to commend IEBC for the good job. We have nothing to complain about,” he said. 

He said heavy rains which hit the area in the morning had slowed voting in the morning.

“The people of Ganda have today made a decision that they will live with up to 2022, we are happy that they have turned up to exercise their democratic right,” he added.