Kenya government has allowed prisoners to exercise their voting franchise in the ongoing general elections in the country.
No less than 145 inmates have cast their votes at the Kisumu Maximum prison, while about 4,000 prisoners across the country had been registered to vote, reports say.
However, while the prisoners are only allowed to vote in the presidential election, other Kenyans are taking part in six elections, from president down to local representatives.
There are six separate ballot papers for president, national assembly, female representatives, governors, senate and county assemblies; while 47 parliamentary seats and 16 senate seats have been reserved for women.
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Punch reports that eight presidential candidates comprising incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga are favourites.
It may be recalled that Kenyatta beat Odinga in the 2013 elections. Their respective fathers were also political rivals in the 1960s, analysts say.
A candidate needs 50 per cent plus one vote for first-round victory.
More than 14,000 candidates are contesting in all the six elections, and more than 45 per cent of registered voters are under 35 years of age.
Some 180,000 security officers are on duty nationwide in case of trouble.
Source: Punch