Migori county residents on Monday took to the ballot to decide on who will be their next Senator after the demise of the former Senator Ben Oluoch Okello.
At the beginning, low voter turnout was witnessed in most polling centers as the two horses battled out for the seat.
Out of the six candidates cleared to contest, it is ODM’s Ochilo Ayacko and Federal Party of Kenya candidate Eddy Oketch Gicheru that had a tough competition.
Late Monday’s results from a few polling stations showed Eddy taking an early lead before he was later overtaken by Ayacko.
There was a standoff in the evening at the Migori county tallying centre after ODM supporters engaged in a shouting match with IEBC officials demanding that by-election results be displayed.
Before the chaotic scene, Ayacko was leading followed by Eddy.
Police had to protect county returning officer Ruth Kulundu from angry agents and youths.
IEBC commissioner Abdi Gulaye said no results will be read, citing that there is no mischief.
“Please let us sit and wait for the results to come, we will announce after we get all forms,” Gulaye said.
Voting closed at 5 pm in the 826 polling stations. The county has about 388,000 registered voters.
Ochilo’s supporters started celebrations at around 9 oclock when results from Kuria region, where they feared they were poised to get fewer votes showed them ahead.
Hooting their motorbikes and vehicles, the supporters thronged Migori, Awendo and Rongo town streets singing praises to Ayacko and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Among the centres that recorded very low turnout was Rapogi Primary School in Uriri constituency where governor Okoth Obado would have cast his vote.
Obado is in custody in relation to a murder case of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno.
The by-election coincided with his appearance in court.
Villagers at his rural home were glued to their television sets following court proceedings in Nairobi.
The brutal murder of Rongo University student Sharon Otieno played a centre stage during the campaigns.
Ayacko lost to Obado in the race for governor during the August 8, 2017, General Election.
ODM gave Ayacko a direct ticket to vie for the Senate seat, a move that was strongly opposed by Obado.
Politicians and social media users had branded the people opposed to the ODM party position as “Team Kodera Forest”.