Conduct & your rights at the station
Last reviewed 6 June 2026 · confirm anything flagged before relying on it.
Voting day belongs to the people in the queue. Arrive calm, patient and respectful — to officials, to agents and to your fellow voters. The steadier everyone behaves, the harder it is for anyone to disrupt the process.
Your vote is secret
No one — not an official, an agent, a candidate or a neighbour — has the right to see how you mark your ballot or to demand that you reveal your choice. You vote alone, in private.
In broad terms, as a voter you are entitled to:
- Cast your vote freely and in secret, without pressure or intimidation.
- Be treated equally regardless of who you are or how you intend to vote.
- Reasonable assistance if you have a disability or need help — on your own terms.
- A process you can observe: counting and tallying happen in the open, with party agents present.
- Do stay peaceful and law-abiding, even if you are frustrated or provoked.
- Do follow lawful instructions from polling officials and security.
- Do keep your distance from queues you are not part of, and avoid blocking others.
- Don't campaign, wear party colours, or canvass at or near the polling station.
- Don't offer or accept money, gifts or favours in exchange for a vote.
- Don't take photos or video of how anyone else marks their ballot.
If tension rises
Do not confront anyone. Step back, keep yourself safe, and let officials and observers handle it. Your safety matters more than any argument. If you witness an irregularity, document it from a safe distance — see "What counts as an issue".
Specific election-offence law
Exact legal citations — which acts are criminal election offences and their penalties under Kenyan law — must be confirmed against the current statutes and a legal partner before this guidance is presented as authoritative.