During a public address at AGC Church in Bomet County, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot discussed the new Bill that will grant the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) the authority to designate vehicles, boats, or ships as polling stations. This means that the IEBC will have the power to select specific vehicles or vessels to serve as polling stations during elections in various electoral areas across the country.
The Bill clearly defines a vessel as any form of ship, boat, or other type of vessel used for navigation purposes. Once these vehicles, boats, or ships are identified and designated as polling stations, they will be prepared and equipped to facilitate the voting process for voters during elections. This move aims to ensure that there are adequate and accessible polling stations available for voters to cast their votes conveniently.
After the vehicles have been equipped and designated as polling stations, the IEBC will publish a notice in the Kenyan Gazette and use electronic and print media to inform the public about the locations of these polling stations. This publication must be done at least three months before any election to allow voters to familiarize themselves with the polling stations in their respective electoral areas. Despite concerns raised by some politicians about potential misuse of this provision, the Bill emphasizes that elections must only take place at officially designated polling stations to maintain transparency and fairness in the electoral rocess.