Kidero vows to block ‘imported’ voters in city election

Governor Evans Kidero has warned that those registered in Nairobi as voters but are non-residents will be blocked from taking part in the 2017 elections.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) conducted a month-long process in February this year where cases of increased voter transfers were reported.

Speaking at the Divine Mercy church in Kariobangi South Dr Kidero said that they will be on the lookout during Election Day on those who had been ‘imported’ to register as voters in the county.

Dr Kidero said that agents will be posted at polling centres and that those “with muddy shoes or with dust will be chased away because our roads are tarmacked,” he said.

He said that some aspirants seeking to unseat him had imported voters from neighbouring counties with a hope of using them to clinch the top seat.

He said that a move by the government to register National Youth Service youths using biometric system was a plot to have them registered as voters so as to vote for their preferred candidates.

Dr Kidero lashed out at the Jubilee coalition accusing it of trying to impose a leader on Nairobi residents yet, he said, they were ignorant of the city.

“Last week, there was one aspirant who could not find his way to Burma market — popular meat haven. I am wondering how such ignorant people are seeking to become leaders of the city,” he said.

The Nairobi county boss welcomed the call by the legislators to clean and auditing of the voter register.

“We are welcoming the move to clean the voter register as we are aware that the NYS youths were registered as voters in the preparation for the next general elections,” said Dr Kidero.