Voter registration kicks off countrywide

An IEBC clerk helps a voter to register at Free Hall, Mombasa County, on January 16, 2017. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • IEBC stated that it is targeting to register more than 420,000 new voters in the Central Eastern region.
  • Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi visited Huduma Centre in Nyeri to check the uncollected national identity cards.

A new campaign to register voters kicked off countrywide Monday, with the electoral body seeking to list six million Kenyans.

The registration started early in most parts of the country, with no hitches reported.

In Eldoret, Meru and Nyeri, residents started steaming in at registration centres as early as 6am.

Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi visited Huduma Centre in Nyeri to check the uncollected national identity cards.

She said there were at least 1,800 uncollected identity cards at the centre.

Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi addressing journalists after visiting Huduma Centre in Nyeri to check the uncollected national identity cards on January 16, 2017. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) launched the registration campaign on Sunday and warned that those who will not have registered by February 14 will have no other opportunity to do so.

IEBC Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba said his team would target six million voters, to add to the 15.9 million already registered.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Cord leader Raila Odinga are expected to mobilise their supporters to turn out in large numbers and enlist in readiness for the August elections.

State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu said President Kenyatta would lead the Jubilee team in rallying Kenyans to register.

Mr Odinga also planned to tour all Cord strongholds to campaign for voter registration.

Eldoret town residents queue at MV Patel centre in Huruma Ward, Turbo constituency, to register as voters on January 16, 2017. PHOTO | STANLEY KIMUGE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

The IEBC stated that it wants to register more than 420,000 new voters in the Central Eastern region.

The region comprises of Meru, Tharaka-Nithi and Embu counties.

IEBC Central Eastern regional coordinator Aluisia Kanini told Nation.co.ke on Monday that there are more people with identity cards in the region and they might surpass their target.

Ms Kanini said the region is covered with 427 registration kits.

In North Imenti constituency, residents lined up in Meru town to register as voters.

Steve Musyoka (right) registers as a voter at Mohamed Moti centre in Meru town on January 16, 2017. PHOTO | DAVID MUCHUI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

North Imenti constituency IEBC coordinator Samuel Gikundi said they were targeting more than 7,000 new voters.

“We have 24 kits spread across the constituency and 10 are available for backup,” Mr Gikundi said.

He noted that each kit has a capacity to register 200 voters and hence the equipment is sufficient for the constituency.

“To increase the number of registered voters, we have planned that one kit will be moving near banks and supermarkets during the weekend. We urge residents to turn out early to register,” he said.

In Mombasa, two people were turned away at a registration centre in Nyali constituency for being underage.

Harry Musirwa Lungano, born on May 30, 1995, according to details on his national identity card, could not be registered after the machine indicated that he was 17 years old.

A female resident was also turned away for being underage.

Voter registration at the Makongeni centre in Kwale County stalled due to technical problems on the BVR kits on January 16, 2017 PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

The two were among hundreds of youths who turned up at centres across Mombasa County to register as voters.

There was tension at three other centres after registration was stopped due to a power failure.

The centres were Ziwa la Ngo’mbe, Freetown and Khadija primary schools in Kisauni.

The IEBC clerks had a tough time calming residents, who had turned up to register.

The situation was saved by the owner of nearby business, who allowed the IEBC clerks to use power from his premises.

The headteacher at Ziwa la Ngo’mbe Primary School also allowed the clerks to use power from his house.

But the registration went on smoothly at other centres in Mvita, Kisauni, Jomvu, Changamwe and Likoni constituencies.

Reporting by David Muchui and Galgalo Bocha.