The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has warned voters participating in Thursday's Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election against taking photographs of their marked ballot papers, cautioning that offenders risk a fine of up to Ksh1 million or imprisonment for up to three years.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The warning comes as voters prepare to cast their ballots from 8am on Thursday, with security agencies and election officials intensifying preparations amid heightened political tension surrounding the mini-poll.

Speaking ahead of the election, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon reminded voters that mobile phones are prohibited inside polling booths and urged them to respect the principle of the secret ballot.

"The use of mobile phones in polling stations is prohibited. Given previous elections conducted in other electoral areas, there were cases where individuals took photographs of their ballot papers after voting and circulated them online," Ethekon said.

📌 What You Need to Know

He urged residents of Ol Kalou not to photograph or expose their marked ballot papers after voting, saying the secrecy of the ballot is a fundamental principle of Kenya's electoral process.

"Please do not take pictures of your ballot paper after selecting your preferred candidate because the secrecy of the vote requires that it remains secret. That is why we facilitate voting through a secret ballot," he said.

According to the IEBC Chairperson, photographing a marked ballot paper is an offence under the Elections Act and carries serious legal consequences.

"If found guilty, you will pay a fine of up to Ksh1 million. Besides the one million shilling fine, the offending party can also be imprisoned for a term not exceeding three years. This matter is very serious," Ethekon warned.

The commission said the advisory was issued following previous elections in which some voters photographed their marked ballots and shared the images online, undermining the secrecy of the vote and raising concerns over voter intimidation and electoral integrity.

The warning comes amid heightened attention on the Ol Kalou by-election, with authorities moving to ensure a peaceful and credible voting exercise.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke