Voting clerks in several polling stations in Lamu Island have complained about Kiems kits failing to identify Swahili women voters who have applied Heena on their fingers.
The officials said there was a prior announcement asking them earlier on to ensure they remove the Heena before the voting day but still majority had the painting on their hands.
"This makes it impossible for the Kiems kit to identify them because the ink used in the Heena interferes with the human fingerprint recognition mechanism of this kit," a clerk said.
Lamu County deputy returning officer Mohamed Ali, however, said for such cases, the clerks have been instructed to use the Alphanumeric identification where the voters' ID cards details are manually input into the kit to identify them and enable them to vote.
They then fill out validation forms and are thereafter allowed to vote after successful validation by the official.
"The situation has also been the same for individuals who do menial jobs like masons, construction workers and so because of the nature of their jobs, their finger prints can't be captured," he said.
President Ruto meets Ambassador Mo Farah at State House