Narok leaders, aspirants urge IEBC to probe voter registration 'irregularities'
What you need to know:
- Some local leaders allege an aggressive voter importation exercise is taking place in the county as the mass voter registration exercise entered the fourth day.
- The leaders have expressed fear that this could significantly tilt the balance in the August polls.
- IEBC sources identified Murang’a, Kiambu, Meru, Kajiado, Narok, Bomet, Nairobi, Busia, Bungoma, Siaya, Machakos and Kakamega as some counties where voter importation is likely to be most pronounced.
A section of leaders and aspirants in Narok want the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to investigate claims that some stations in Narok town are only dealing with transfer of voters from other regions and not registering new voters.
Some local leaders allege an aggressive voter importation exercise is taking place in the county as the mass voter registration exercise entered the fourth day.
The leaders have expressed fear that this could significantly tilt the balance in the August polls.
Narok North parliamentary seat aspirant Meitamei Ololdapash made startling claims that some aspirants are financially influencing voters to change their polling centres as a secret weapon to secure victory.
Mr Ololdapash called on the IEBC to investigate registration centres in Narok town.
“Who are these people moving to Narok to register, and why are they doing that. It is their right but why are they members of one community,” said Mr Ololdapash.
He spoke as IEBC sources identified Murang’a, Kiambu, Meru, Kajiado, Narok, Bomet, Nairobi, Busia, Bungoma, Siaya, Machakos and Kakamega as some counties where voter importation is likely to be most pronounced.
“We are concerned that the number of voters transferring to wards in Narok, the six constituencies and regions is higher than the newly registered voters,” said a local registration clerk who sought anonymity.
Meanwhile, leaders in the region continued mobilizing residents to turn up in large numbers and register as voters in preparation for the August general election.
Narok West MP Patrick Ole Ntutu and Senate aspirant Ledama Ole Kina asked youth who have not obtained Identity Cards to do so and register as voters.
Mr Ntutu who addressed residents of Eor-Ekule in Narok East, said the polls will possibly have the highest number of new and youthful voters, adding that more than five million Kenyans who were too young to vote in 2013 will have attained the voting age of 18 years by the next general election.
