Update: Roots party presidential candidate George Luchiri Wajackoyah cast his vote at Indangalasia primary school in Matungu on August 9,2022 at around 1pm.
Earlier, Wajackoya had said he would be the first presidential candidate in Kenya not to cast his vote after the KIEMS kit at Indangalasia Primary School polling station, Matungu Constituency, Kakamega County, failed to identify him.
Addressing members of the press on Tuesday, August 9 before casting his vote, Wajackoya wondered why the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) did not test the kits before the General Election and vowed not to head back to the polling station to cast his vote.
"If they tell me the KIEMS kits are not working, then they are not working, why would I go back there?" Wajackoya posed.
"This will be the first election a presidential candidate has not voted because the government has rigged him out. I'm very disappointed because I have not voted whereas all the other presidential candidates have already voted," he added.
Additionally, Wajackoya claimed that there was a ploy by the government to rig him out of the election.
"In my strongholds, people have not voted since morning. In Matungu sub-county, Kakamega County, I'm told most of the people have not voted...why would they not test the [KIEMS] kits?" he questioned.
On her part, Wajackoya's wife, Meller Luchiri said; "It's very disappointing for machines not to be working on the day that is the most important to the lives of Kenyans. However, no weapon formed against us shall prosper. Remain calm, vigilant and we see these thing to the very end," Luchiri said.
The hitch has been associated with a network issue and has greatly affected and delayed voting in Namlungu, Namanga and Khalaba in Western region.
Kakamega county Returning Officer Joseph Ayata confirmed the hitch adding that IEBC technical team will be resolving the issue before normalcy is restored.
