By Correspondent | Wajir Today | Thursday, 27 November 2025
Voting is underway in Banisa Constituency, Mandera County, where residents turned up early on Thursday to choose their next MP in a high-stakes by-election.
Polls opened at 6am with Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials reporting smooth operations across the vast constituency.
Voting is set to close at 5pm, marking an eleven-hour window in which 32,703 registered voters are expected to cast their ballots.
Banisa, which has 82 polling stations scattered across the constituency, witnessed long queues in some polling stations at dawn.
The by-election has drawn intense interest despite featuring only two candidates, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) flagbearer Ahmed Malim Hassan and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Nurdin Maalim Mohamed.
The race has shaped up into a fierce head-to-head duel, with both camps deploying agents and mobilising supporters in a last-minute scramble for votes.
IEBC officials reported a steady flow of voters, though some stations recorded slow starts due to delays in setting up equipment. No major incidents had been reported.
As the clock ticks towards the 5pm deadline, all eyes remain firmly on Banisa. The constituency is expected to deliver one of the closest by-election verdicts in recent memory, with both candidates expressing confidence that they will clinch the seat.
