Jubilee and Cord chiefs urge voters in their strongholds to register ahead of polls
Residents of Nanyuki in Laikipia County register as voters under at Central Park on January 17, 2017. President Uhuru Kenyatta is on a tour of central Kenya while Cord’s Raila Odinga is touring Nyanza, both in campaigns to urge their supporters to register in large numbers. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Deputy President William Ruto is also expected to tour Migori County on Thursday to mobilise voters.
- Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula continue with their tour of northern Kenya.
- President Kenyatta will on Thursday be in Murang'a County.
- Jubilee and Cord are battling for nine million unregistered Kenyans.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and Cord leader Raila Odinga are on their nationwide tours to urge Kenyans to turn out in large numbers to register as voters.
The ruling coalition and the opposition under Mr Odinga believe the ongoing mass voter registration will determine the winner in the August 8 elections.
“This year’s election will be determined within the 30 days of mass voter registration,” Mr Odinga said in Kisumu Wednesday.
Deputy President William Ruto is also expected to tour Migori County on Thursday to mobilise the Kuria people to register as voters.
Cord principals Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Moses Wetang’ula (Ford-Kenya) continue with their tour of northern Kenya to mobilise people to register as voters.
On Wednesday the duo were in Wajir, where they urged Kenyans to register as voters and expressed confidence Cord would emerge victorious in the coming elections.
Jubilee and Cord are battling for nine million unregistered Kenyans, with the IEBC seeking to register at least six million new voters in the ongoing process.
RAILA IN NYANZA
In Nyanza, where Mr Odinga enjoys massive support, there are 1,274,894 people with IDs but without voter cards while in western Kenya, where he also enjoys support, a total of 1,007,524 people have IDs but have not registered as voters.
The ODM leader is Thursday expected to tour Nyamira, Kisii, Homa Bay and later Migori.
DP Ruto is also expected in Migori County, where he is supposed to tour Kuria West and East constituencies.
President Kenyatta, on the other hand, will Thursday be in Murang'a County.
He will then head to Nyeri, Meru, Laikipia and Kirinyaga counties.
State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu, in a statement, said the President is scheduled to start his tour of Murang’a at Blue Post on the border of Murang’a and Kiambu counties.
The President will then head to Jogoo Kimakia, Gatunyu, Gatanga Junction, Gacharage, Kangari, Kigumo, Kirere, Muthithi, Kaharati, Maragua and Muranga towns, Kahuhia, Kangema and Kiria-ini.
UHURU IN NYERI
On Friday, the President will be in Nyeri County and is expected to visit Kiamariga, Kaburuini, Kawarigi, Karatina, Ichamara, Kiandu, Nyeri Town, King’ong’o, Kiganjo and Chaka.
On Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, the President will tour Meru, Laikipia and Kirinyaga counties, respectively, Mr Esipisu said in the statement.
“Mombasa and Nakuru and many more counties are lined up as the next areas the President will visit to urge Kenyans to register to vote. Details of the visits will be announced at a later date,” added Mr Esipisu.
On Monday next week, Mr Odinga will tour Vihiga, Shamakhoho, Kakamega, Bungoma (Posta grounds) and Trans Nzoia (Kitale).
On Tuesday, Mr Odinga will tour West Pokot and visit Kacheliba, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Kapcherop and Turkana, and on Friday he will go to Machakos, Kitui and Makueni.
On Saturday the opposition brigade will head to Taita-Taveta.
They will visit Mwatate and later Kwale before heading to Mombasa town in the afternoon.
