ODM asks Uhuru to ensure fair issuance of IDs
ODM leader Raila Odinga with Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson Wafula Chebukati during a joint press conference at Capital Hill on February 8, 2017. Mr Odinga wants fair issuance of IDs. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- ODM chairman John Mbadi singled out Western Kenya as one of the regions whose residents could not get their ID cards.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) accused the government of marginalising its strongholds in the issuance of national identity cards to eligible voters.
In a statement, ODM chairman John Mbadi singled out Western Kenya as one of the regions whose residents could not get their ID cards in order to register as voters almost three weeks since President Kenyatta ordered that all youth who had attained the age of 18 or above be provided with the documents within three days.
“We are compelled once again to draw the attention of President Uhuru Kenyatta to the selective implementation of his directive that Kenyans who have attained the age of 18 and above be provided with national identity within three days of application for the same,” Mr Mbadi stated.
Western Kenya comprising the former Nyanza and Western provinces is considered an opposition stronghold with the dominant political parties being ODM, Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya.
The Jubilee Party has also tried to make inroads in the region by poaching several MPs and Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka to its fold.
On Thursday, Mr Mbadi accused provincial administrators in the region of absconding duty deliberately to deny the youth a chance to get their ID cards so that they could register as voters.
