A voter casts ballot in Kenya High Commission in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda, on Aug. 8, 2017. Kenyan nationals residing in Rwanda on Tuesday participated in general elections by casting their votes at the diplomatic mission in the capital city Kigali. (Xinhua/Lyu Tianran)
KIGALI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan nationals residing in Rwanda on Tuesday participated in general elections by casting their votes at the diplomatic mission in the capital city Kigali.
The elections in Kenya are for the President, county governor, senator, Member of Parliament, woman representative and member of county assembly.
The voters began arriving at the Kenyan High Commission in Kacyiru sector, Gasabo district as early as 6 a.m. where a polling station had been established. By 11 am, at least 100 people had cast their votes.
Speaking to Xinhua, Catherine Koskey, the presiding officer for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) at the embassy said that there have been no incidents and voters woke up as early as 6 a.m. to exercise their rights.
"We started at 6 a.m. and are hoping to close at 5 p.m. We are encouraging Kenyans living in Rwanda who are registered voters to hurry and vote before deadline," she said.
According to Koskey, about 850 Kenyans in Rwanda registered to vote at the Kenya High Commission in Kigali.
The main presidential contest is between incumbent president Uhuru Kenyatta, the flag bearer of Jubilee coalition and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, leader of the National Super Alliance (NASA).
Also on the list of candidates are six other independent candidates.
"I'm glad that Kenyans have turned up to vote and no incidents and violence. I believe things will get better after this election. I pray for peaceful elections," said Eugene Anangwe, a Kenyan journalist living in Rwanda.
