NAIROBI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Kenyans in the capital of Nairobi woke up early Tuesday, braving the morning chill to cast their ballots in an election that is too close to call.
Most voters were on queues at polling stations as early as 2 am hoping to elect their leaders and go back to their places of work.
At Komarock Primary School polling center, on the east of Nairobi, voters said they started to queue at 3 am, with voting kicking off at 6 am as scheduled.
"I am happy with the process as it is smooth. Once you reach the polling center, you are guided to stand in a queue depending on your name, which was a good thing. My voters' card and identity cards were then checked if they were genuine, then I placed my index finger at the identification machine and my name popped up," recounted Antony Kimenchu, a voter.
He was then handed all the six ballot papers for the candidates vying for various seats and proceeded to the polling booth to vote.
"The process took me about three minutes perhaps because I was among the first people but I know it can even be faster so that more people vote before the 5 pm deadline lapses," he said.
The electoral body was forced to replace a clerk who stamped ballot papers as rejected, and presiding officers in three poling stations in Nairobi over delays.
A photo of a ballot paper stamped "IEBC rejected" has been circulating on social media, prompting the electoral agency to address the matter.
Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati said Tuesday that agents who caused delays in Nairobi were replaced for a smooth process.
Chebukati said they have extended the time for those areas and others where polling stations opened late.
"We have had no major hitches ... apart from a few issues affecting polling stations. We have experienced delays in these areas and consequently changed the agents," he told a media briefing in Nairobi.
He further said they sent their teams to places where they are experiencing technical hitches.
"Our officers have been deployed to resolve technical issues in Wajir, Isiolo and Dadaab (in northeast region). Our team is on the ground...we have been informed that voting is going on smoothly," Chebukati said.
He asked Kenyans to exercise calm and patience as they work towards free, fair and credible elections. "We thank Kenyans for making the work of agents easy. We are very encouraged by voter turnout."
Chebukati said they will keep the promise of a credible election and urged those who have not cast their ballots to do so.
At Kayole Primary School, another polling station on the east of Nairobi, the queues of voters were similarly long. While the process was smooth, voters complained it was slow.
"The clerks are too slow I wonder if all these people would vote by the time the stations close. They must increase their pace," said a voter identified as Samuel.
Most of the voters said they expected a free and fair election that is not marred with any intimidation or violence.
However, at Donholm Primary School, voting was delayed for close to two hours as officials blamed the hitch on lack of election kits and booths.
Hundreds of voters who had camped at the polling stations as early as 3 am got agitated at one point leading to violent scenes.
"It is now about 9 am and we are yet to start voting. No one is giving us a proper explanation yet the exercise was supposed to start at 6 am," said Caroline Otiato, a voter at the station.
There was a stampede at the station as police fired teargas in the air to disperse the voters who had become rowdy.
At least five people were injured, one seriously following the commotion at the polling station that has 25 voting centers.
Brian Bosire, a voter at the station said the problem started when the gate remained closed at the time voting was supposed to have started.
"The gate was broken by irate voters who were agitated because they were getting no explanation from electoral commission officials," he said.
The election pits President Uhuru Kenyatta and his long-time rival Raila Odinga, both who have exuded confidence of winning.
While Kenyatta is hoping to be re-elected based on his achievements, Odinga hinges his hopes on promises he has given, including free education from kindergarten to secondary school.
