Floods submerge 8 polling stations in Baringo ahead of Thursday’s by-election

Eight polling stations in Baringo South have been submerged by floods and the IEBC says it will have to gazette alternative stations to have the voting proceed on Thursday in Ilchamus and Mukutani wards.

The areas affected are schools that have always been used by the IEBC in previous general elections.

In one polling station, an entire school is flooded as waters from Lake Bogoria and Lake Baringo spilled over to the mainland, submerging schools, homes and hotels.

"A total of eight polling stations have been submerged," said IEBC Commissioner Anne Nderitu.

The situation is dire as crocodiles and hippos rule the fields that once hosted voters’ queues.

The affected polling stations located in Mukutani and Ilchamus wards in Baringo South include Ngambo Primary School, Lake Bogoria Secondary School, Lake Baringo Secondary School, Salabani Primary School, Sintaan Primary School, Oldepe Osinya Primary School, Nosukuro Primary School and Lesun Primary School.

"We will now have to gazette alternative polling stations so that these voters are not affected," said Ms. Nderitu.

IEBC says despite the challenges, plans have been solidified to ensure a free, fair and transparent Senate by-election in Baringo that will see six candidates face off.