While officiating this exercise, the High Commissioner of Rwanda to Kenya Amb. James Kimonyo who is also Chief Returning officer welcomed the voters and commended them for turning up in good numbers to exercise their civic duty before explaining the voting process.
A total of 537 applied for parliamentary contest, 64 per cent are women.
Leading the pack was Amb Kimonyo, casting his vote before 7 am at the High Commission on Limuru Road.
The Under 20 volleyball team representing Rwanda at the 2018 Women’s U20 African Nations Championship in Nairobi also broke from camp and arrived in their official national kits to vote ahead of their final match with Egypt on Sunday evening.
“It is a day for Rwandans to exercise their democratic rights and it doesn’t matter where in Diaspora the citizens are; they are allowed to vote for their favourite leaders back home,” said Mr. Kimonyo.
He said at least 2000 registered voters were expected to cast votes in Nairobi.
The other polling station in Kenya is Mombasa where according to the Commission’s First Secretary Kim Kamasa was also experiencing a smooth exercise.
“We are so excited to vote today in the midst of our preparations for the final match and this gives us a lot of fulfillment,” said Kansime Julius, head of the Rwandan Under 20- volleyball team.
Kansime said many in the team were voting for the first time in these elections after turning 18 years.
The exercise at the embassy saw women with children stacked on their backs patiently waiting for their turn to vote in this secret ballot exercise.
Mrs. Lucia Ingabire who showed up with her baby on the back couldn’t hide her joy minutes after casting the vote.
“I am happy. I have made it here to make a choice.”
Also voting in the exercise was the Rwanda East Africa Legislative Assembly member and former Prime Minster of Rwanda Pierre-Celestin Rwigema.
“I had to come here and vote because it is a very important exercise in the way we manage our public affairs with the endorsement and authority of the Rwandan people,” he said after voting.
Rwandans in Mombasa voted from Royal Castle Hotel.
Hussein Mugisha who was the first person to cast his vote said he had waited long for the voting occasion.
“I turned 18 years old three month ago. I have been waiting for this moment. As you can see I am in school uniform and from here I will proceed to school; that’s why I got here before anyone else so that I can vote and go on with my schooling business,” he said Mugisha.
Rwandan Parliament is comprised of 80 members for a five-year term elected. Among the 80, 53 members from different parties and independent candidates are elected in general elections. Other 27 seats go to women with 24 seats. youth with two seats and one seat for the people with disabilities.
In the country, general elections are taking place this Monday.
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