Ol Kalou by-election begins as IEBC urges voters to protect ballot secrecy
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, July 16, 2026Voting is underway in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, with polling stations opening at 6.00 a.m. as residents turned out early to elect their new Member of Parliament.
Taking it to their X handles on Thursday, July 16, 2026, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said polling centres will remain open until 5.00 p.m., adding that any time lost due to interruptions during the day will be compensated for at the close of voting. The commission also assured voters that everyone in the queue by 5.00 p.m. will be allowed to cast their ballot.
“Polling stations opened at 6.00 am and will close at 5.00 pm. Any lost time during polling will be recovered at closing. Voters in the queue by 5.00 pm will be allowed to vote,” IEBC stated.
The by-election has attracted significant political attention, with security heightened across the constituency as election officials oversee the voting exercise.
IEBC warns against photographing marked ballots
As voting got underway, the IEBC reminded voters that the secrecy of the ballot is a constitutional right protected under Articles 38(3)(b) and 81(e)(i) of the Constitution.
The commission has cautioned that photographing or recording a marked ballot paper is an electoral offence, saying such actions undermine the integrity of the electoral process and expose voters to intimidation, coercion and vote-buying.
According to the electoral body, protecting the secrecy of the vote remains a cornerstone of Kenya’s democratic elections and is essential to ensuring free and fair polls.
IEBC urges reliance on verified election information
The IEBC also urged members of the public to rely on its official communication channels for accurate, timely and verified election information throughout the day.
The commission has encouraged voters, candidates and stakeholders to follow updates through its official website and verified social media platforms to avoid misinformation as the by-election progresses.
Voting is expected to continue peacefully throughout the day before the counting and tallying of votes begin immediately after the close of polling.
The Ol Kalou by-election is expected to provide an early indication of the political contest between the ruling party, United Democratic Alliance (UDA), and the opposition’s Democratic for the Citizens Party (DCP), making it one of the most closely watched by-elections ahead of the 2027 general election.