Clean voters’ register, Raila tells Chebukati

New Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairman Wafula Chebukati takes oath of office at Supreme Court on January 20, 2017. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Odinga said that he was dismayed to find out that he shared an ID number with a woman called Anyango.
  • He accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery of abetting corruption at his ministry through double registration.
  • Leaders who spoke at the function promised to see that every person eligible as a voter is registered.

Cord leader Raila Odinga has asked the newly sworn-in electoral commissioners to inspect the voter register to weed out 1.5 million dead voters.

He claimed that it is the “dead voters” who gave Jubilee victory in the last General Election and faulted the Ministry of Interior for “causing confusion” in the ongoing registration.

Speaking at Pap Kalango in Rangwe on Thursday, Mr Odinga said that he was dismayed to find out that he shared an ID number with a woman called Anyango when he tried verify his registration status.

“The new commissioners must remove the 1.5 million dead voters from the register to ensure Jubilee does not get to power through rigging again,” he said.

The new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commissioners (IEBC), led by chairman Wanyonyi Chebukati, on Friday took the oath of office, signalling the end of long-drawn dispute that started with street protests by the Opposition leaders last year.

Mr Chebukati said he would steer the commission to credible elections by following the law.

Mr Odinga accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery of abetting corruption at his ministry through double registration.

“The double registration of persons as witnessed in my case and that of my co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka shows that Nkaissery’s office is to blame,” he said.

Mr Odinga urged his supporters to register in large numbers saying the Jubilee administration was in a panic mode ahead of the August polls.

He asked ODM leaders in Nyanza to ensure that they work as a team during the ongoing registration process.

ODM nominations are usually hotly contested as an aspirant who clinches its ticket is almost assured of a win.

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Mr Odinga also joined the growing list of politicians who have resorted to ‘unorthodox’ ways of enticing Kenyans to register as voters, including asking women to deny their unregistered husbands their conjugal rights.

Mr Odinga told single ladies not to be seduced by men who have not acquired the voters’ card.

“While you deny them their conjugal rights, ensure that you are safe with your card as well,” the ODM leader said.

Mr Onyango Oloo, the former TNA secretary-general who defected to ODM, told a jubilant crowd that he was a lost son who had come back home.

“I knew my home too well. I am going to boost Odinga’s presidential bid with the secrets I am bringing from Jubilee,” he said.

He asked the crowd to forgive him for associating himself with the ruling coalition which has neglected the region.

Leaders who spoke at the function promised to see that every person eligible as a voter is registered.

Homa Bay is one of Mr Odinga’s most populous support bases.

He believes if his supporters register and vote in the August election, he can triumph after three previous attempts.

Mr Odinga, who inspected voter registration in Rangwe and Suba, was accompanied by Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti, ODM chairman John Mbadi, MPs George Oner (Rangwe), Gladys Wanga (Woman Rep), Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town), Millie Odhiambo (Mbita), Sylvan Osele (Kabondo Kasipul) and Senator Moses Kajwang’.