Students take part in voter mobilisation drive

Students from different institutions of higher learning in Uasin Gishu have embarked on mobilising their colleagues to register as voters ahead of the deadline.

The students drawn from Moi University, University of Eldoret (UoE), Eldoret National Polytechnic and Rift Valley Technical Training Institute reiterated the importance of voting.

Clinton Kakach, a student of Moi University, said being registered as a voter will give one an opportunity to choose competent leaders.

"Time has come for us Kenyan youth to enlist as voters in large numbers. Our vote will shape the country’s future," Kakach said.

Addressing the press at Highlands Inn in Eldoret on Saturday, Mr Kakach observed that the youth can only make a difference if they enlist.

"....This country will only have leaders who will drive the agenda of the youth if they [the youth] register as voters and participate in the coming General Election," he added.

Similarly, Anne Mabeya, a second year student at University of Eldoret, said they are using social media to urge their colleagues to register as voters.

Moreover, Benson Wachilonga, a mechanical engineering student at the Rift Valley Technical Training Institute, observed that the youth make up the largest population, hence their interests cannot go unnoticed.

With only three days to the voter registration deadline, Evans Otieno Nyambuga from the University of Eldoret asked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to extend the registration date to accommodate more people.

Nyambuga said some students are not able to enlist due to school commitments.

"We just started this year’s academic calendar the other day. Most of us have been running up and down trying to register for units and get admitted.

"It is my prayer that the IEBC will extend this exercise so that each and every youth takes part in it," he said.