Call for civic education as it emerges Mau Mau veterans fear BVR machines
Peter Kamuthu, a community leader and parliamentary aspirant from Nyeri. He has called for civic education on the ongoing voter registration after it emerged that some old men from the region are refusing to register for fears that details captured by BVR machines might lead to their arrest for "crimes" they committed during the war for independence. PHOTO | JOSEPH WANGUI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- They have refused to register as voters using the BVR machines since their details will be captured.
- They have demanded assurance from the authorities that they will not be arrested.
- Peter Kamuthu termed the fears ‘mythical’ as he called for civic education to enlighten the old men.
Some old men from Tetu constituency in Nyeri County have kept away from the just-started massive voter registration, fearing that biometric voter registration (BVR) machines might expose their “past crimes”.
They are scared that the machines might lead to their arrests for crimes committed during the colonial era against their former chiefs, corroborators and British soldiers.
The Mau Mau veterans from Ihururu and Muhoya have now refused to register as voters using the BVR machines since their details will be captured.
They have demanded assurance from the authorities that they will not be arrested.
Peter Kamuthu, a community leader and parliamentary seat aspirant, termed the fears "mythical" as he called for civic education to enlighten the old men on the importance of registering as voters and participating in coming elections.
“The men are quite convinced that placing their fingerprints on BVR machines will expose them. Most of them are Mau Mau veterans who were aggressively involved in the struggle for independence,” he said.
“That is the reason we need IEBC to conduct intensive user-friendly civic education which should be a door-to -door exercise,” he added.
He also noted that there is a need to fight voter apathy in the Jubilee strongholds and called on leaders to ensure locals register in large numbers.
