Tensions rose in several polling centres on Thursday after voters were seen openly defying the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) directive banning smartphones inside polling stations.
The rule, aimed at protecting the secrecy and integrity of the vote, appeared difficult to enforce in some areas, with several individuals managing to walk into voting booths with their devices despite repeated warnings from officials.
Presiding officers reported multiple cases where voters had to be escorted out and asked to surrender their phones before casting their ballots. However, enforcement remained inconsistent, largely due to long queues, overwhelmed staff, and limited screening capacity at the station entrances.
Compounding the situation, a suspected rigging incident was reported at one polling station, where agents and voters raised alarm after noticing irregular activities allegedly involving unauthorized access to election materials.
Observers at the station claimed that the presence of smartphones inside the station may have contributed to heightened suspicion, with fears that photos or videos could have been used to facilitate malpractice. IEBC officials at the centre halted voting temporarily to address the concerns and reassure voters that the process remained secure.
Election monitors said that both the smartphone violations and the reported irregularities posed a risk to public confidence in the electoral process. “Even the perception of malpractice even before any investigation is concluded—can damage trust,” one observer stated.
The IEBC is expected to issue a statement addressing both the smartphone breaches and the reported irregularities. Security agencies have also been urged to tighten oversight while ensuring that voters are not intimidated.
By Kenyans