Voters give terms for listing
Mr Robert Kiprop (left) and others queue to register afresh at Simotwet Primary School in Eldoret East constituency on Monday. The 45-day countrywide exercise by the electoral commission is in readiness for the upcoming constitution referendum. Photo/ JARED NYATAYA
What you need to know:
- Residents say casting votes reminds them of 2008 violence
It was long queues in some areas as voters sought to register, while in others, apathy prevailed.
In Eldoret, some internally displaced people at the Yamumbi Camp refused to register, saying they had lost confidence in the electoral system following the discredited 2007 elections that led to violence and uprooted them from their homes.
Mrs Rachael Njeri, 70, said casting votes reminded her of the violence that impoverished her after she lost all her property.
Similar reasons
Ms Grace Waruora also said she would not register for similar reasons. But 69-year-old Daudi Gitau Kimani said he would only register if the Government bought him land, built a house and fulfilled other promises.
Camp residents added that they were being threatened with eviction, yet the Government had not compensated them. Those interviewed said they would only leave after receiving the Sh35,000 promised to them.
But Wareng DC Alex ole Nkoiyo said the IDPs had all been paid Sh10,000. “Those at Yamumbi were tenants and are not entitled to the Sh25,000,” he said by telephone.
In Marakwet, the voter registration started amid protests over clerks hired from outside the area. At Kabengong and Emkew stations in Marakwet West, villagers said they had been ignored even after applying for jobs as clerks.
“We have qualified unemployed youths who applied. How come they were left out and some hired from other locations? This is totally unacceptable,” said Mr Joel Kiptoo.
District Interim Independent Electoral Commission coordinator John Ekonit promised to address the issues, and asked people to register.
In Trans Nzoia, Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa appealed to the displaced and the squatters to reconsider their decision to boycott registration, saying, this would enable them to vote in the right leaders in 2012.
He pledged to push the Government to settle the squatters. Most were uprooted from their homes in election violence since 1992.
In Bungoma, there was a big turnout with long queues since Monday, but there were delays in Kimilili due to lack of materials.
Reports by Kennedy Lumwamu, Philemon Suter, Bernard Kwalia and Erick Ngobilo
