The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has lauded efforts by various actors in mobilizing citizens to register widely as voters. The commission says that the registration is a voluntary exercise and cannot be used to deny the public essential services.
The ongoing affair has experienced low voter registration turnout with cases of malfunction of BVR kits in some areas. Areas with very low voter turnout include Tana River, Lamu, Turkana and Laikipia.
However, the IEBC Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba has said that the few hitches experienced in different constituencies are going to be tackled and that the commission will ensure adequate power supply in all counties.
“We thank members of the public in the affected areas for their patience and understanding, the commission has reserved BVR kits in every constituency to serve as back-up to those already in the field”, said Mr. Ezra Chiloba.
The commission’s CEO emphasized that the ongoing registration only targets persons who have never registered as voters at any time between 2012 and 2016, and persons who have recently attained the voting age and a national identity card.
Requirements for voter’s registration are that one must be a Kenyan of 18 years of age and above, have an original national identification card and must be physically present at the registration centre.
For the diaspora population that wishes to register the CEO said that the exercise will kick off after the commission, settles on a country for easy registration.
The commission also has ongoing registration at Huduma centres countrywide and kits at Huduma centres open to register voters into polling stations in the hosting County.
The commission has started an awareness campaign to enhance the number of voters registering at both national and county levels. The annual voter education week will run from 23rd to 29th January to boost the registration drive.
Mr. Chiloba explained that the commission will share updates and progress reports of the voter registration exercise on a weekly basis.