The people of Kenya's neglected north voted on Monday in parliamentary polls seen as a key test of scandal-dogged President Mwai Kibaki's chances in an election next year.
Many trekked on foot to vote in the western town of Nakuru and four constituencies in Northern Province - a drought and violence-hit region of sandy plains and thorn trees - where seats were vacant after five lawmakers died in a plane crash.
"Voter turnout is rather sluggish because most people are out grazing their animals," said Sara Godana, a candidate for the opposition Kenya African National Union (KANU) which was ousted by Kibaki in 2002 but remains strong in the north.
Analysts see the vote as Kibaki's biggest test since a humiliating referendum defeat in November 2005, when Kenyans overwhelmingly rejected a new constitution.
The elections also provided a chance to assess rapidly shifting political alliances ahead of next year's vote in east Africa's strongest economy, long seen as a haven of stability but shaken by a string of scandals.
After defeating former President Daniel arap Moi's KANU party in 2002, Kibaki's National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) has all but disintegrated. It is unclear on what political ticket he will run if - as expected - he seeks re-election. Results were due from late on Monday.
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