Voters’ list nears 11 million mark

What you need to know:

  • As the deadline nears, Beach management unit officials in Migori County have barred locals from fishing unless they register as voters. Fishmongers too must produce voters cards before they can buy fish
  • The IEBC on Sunday accused the management of Leena Apparel EZP factory of denying workers time off to register as voters. However, the company refuted the allegations
  • Several people were turned away for hours at the Sacred Heart Secondary School registration centre in Mombasa on Sunday after IEBC clerks ran out of acknowledgment slips

The number of registered voters is edging towards the 11 million mark, with only two days to the deadline.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) communication’s manager, Ms Tabitha Mutemi, told the Nation that as at last Wednesday, the number of registered voters had reached 10.3 million.

This number is expected to increase, taking into consideration the number of voters registered during the weekend.

This figure still falls short of the targeted 18 million voters by 7.7 million.

As the deadline nears, Beach management unit officials in Migori County have barred locals from fishing unless they register as voters. Fishmongers too must produce voters cards before they can buy fish.

“Voter registration statistics in Nyanza are worrying. That’s why we are using such methods to encourage people to register,” said Mr Victor Otieno, a fisherman from Nyatike.

In Nakuru, IEBC is relying on the Provincial Administration to mobilise voters ahead of Tuesday's deadline.

In Kuresoi, those who lost their IDs during post-election violence were yet to receive a replacement while others remained uncollected at the local registration centres.

Meanwhile, the IEBC on Sunday accused the management of Leena Apparel EZP factory of denying workers time off to register as voters.

Addressing the media, IEBC South Coast regional coordinator Amina Soud said it was “unfortunate” that over 2,000 adults could be locked out of voting”. She said two employees were sacked for leaving work to go and register as voters.

But the company director, Mr Mukhesh Pala, refuted the allegations, saying: “We cannot infringe on the rights of Kenyans. No one has asked for time off to register,” he said.

And several people were turned away for hours at the Sacred Heart Secondary School registration centre in Mombasa on Sunday after IEBC clerks ran out of acknowledgment slips and later the Biometric Voter Registration kit went off due to a low battery.

Report by Dave Opiyo, Boniface Mwangi and Elisha Otieno, Bozo Jenje, Daniel Nyassy