Digital register an excuse to rig poll, Cord says
Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o who has alleged that the mooted digital registration of persons is a gimmick to rig the next poll. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- IEBC later said that it would only offer technical advice to government if invited to, and asserted it would not merge its register with any oth
The Coalition on Reform and Democracy has accused the Jubilee administration of planning to use the digital registration of Kenyans to rig the 2017 General Election.
Acting ODM party leader Anyang’ Nyong’o alleged that this would be done by merging the new digital catalogue with the voters’ register.
Prof Nyong’o said the government was using insecurity as an excuse to register Kenyans afresh instead of addressing issues plaguing the country.
Early this week, Deputy President William Ruto met with IEBC chairman Issack Hassan over possible amalgamation of the two registers.
But IEBC later said that it would only offer technical advice to government if invited to, and asserted it would not merge its register with any other. (READ: Government to register all Kenyans afresh)
Commissioner Thomas Letangule said that IEBC’s mandate is sealed by the Constitution and, therefore, does not extend to the registration of persons.
On Saturday, Prof Nyong’o said that the registration of persons first ought to be handled by the relevant committees of the National Assembly and the Senate before the process kicks off.
“The government should not ambush Kenyans with the issue of digital registration before arising issues are ironed out,” said Prof Nyong’o.
The ODM leader said that no allocation had been made in the budget as announced by the DP.
“We suspect that this is a ploy by Jubilee to rig the next poll,” he said.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba said the process would be unacceptable to Kenyans unless the demographic profile of each region was taken into account.
Dr Khalwale said the government had marginalised communities from western Kenya and asked the region to unite irrespective of political party.
The leaders spoke at Combo Primary schools in Malava Constituency during the burial of the ODM sub branch chairman, Musavini Mambwa.
“When the deputy president William Ruto announced plans for Kenyans to be registered afresh, he gave the impression that only IEBC was the only competent body to handle the process,” said Mr Namwamba.
