IEBC targets 700,000 new voters in North Rift region before 2017 polls

North Rift IEBC Regional co-ordinator Bilha Kiptugen (centre) accompanied by commission manager in charge of website and digital media Andrew Limo (left) and communications manager Edgar Aswani addressing journalists in Eldoret on February 17, 2016. She said that the commission had deployed two kits in every ward adding on that it will be giving more kits if the number of voters increases. PHOTO | DENNIS LUBANGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • North Rift Regional IEBC coordinator Bilha Kiptugen said that they are set to register 388,625 new voters by the end of this month from the region and another 320,000 in a similar exercise next year.
  • Ms Kiptugen was speaking on Wednesday during a one-day media sensitisation seminar at an Eldoret hotel in Uasin Gishu County. The seminar brought together Journalists drawn from the North Rift region.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is targeting to register a total of 700,000 voters in the North Rift region ahead of the 2017 General Elections.

The electoral agency launched the one-month registration on Monday, with Chairman Issack Hassan defending distribution of electronic equipment to be used.

North Rift Regional IEBC coordinator Bilha Kiptugen said that they are set to register 388,625 new voters by the end of this month from the region and another 320,000 in a similar exercise next year.

Ms Kiptugen was speaking on Wednesday during a one-day media sensitisation seminar at an Eldoret hotel in Uasin Gishu County. The seminar brought together Journalists drawn from the North Rift region.

The forum was also attended by IEBC manager in charge of website and digital media Andrew Limo and communications manager Edgar Aswani.

She assured residents of the region that there are enough biometric voter registrations kits (BVRs) had been dispatched to the counties of Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Trans Nzoia, Turkana and West Pokot.

“We are appealing to the youth aged 18 years and above but have not managed to register as voters for various reasons to turn up in large numbers and enlist as voters,” said Mrs Kiptugen.

According to her, they are projected to register 54,368 voters in Turkana County, West Pokot (39,847), TransNzoia (83,865), Uasin Gishu (87,922), Elgeyo Marakwet (50,398) and Nandi (73255) voters.

She urged eligible voters across the region to register now instead of waiting until the last minute.

“We have done enough awareness and sensitisation forums in the six counties that comprise the region and it is now all systems go in the massive voter registration drive,” stated Mrs Kiptugen.

She also assured that the electoral agency has addressed all the concerns raised by stakeholders in the region, key among them shortage of BVR kits in overpopulated wards.