The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has urged Kenyans to turn up and register as voters as it advances with its continuous voter registration programme.
Appearing on Spice FM on Thursday, November 13, IEBC Commissioner Ann Nderitu raised concern over the low turnout, noting that it fell remarkably short of the Commission’s target to register 6.8 million voters.
As of last week, IEBC had registered 90,020 new voters, a number which Nderitu noted had risen to approximately 110,000, with the Commissioner urging Kenyans to take advantage of the CVR and register.
“In terms of voter registration, we’re not doing well as a country, falling short of our target of 6.8 million. Many Kenyans are not coming out to register,” she said.
“We are conducting what we call continuous voter registration, which remains open throughout the period except in areas where by-elections are taking place across the 290 offices. Kenyans should take advantage of the opportunity to come out and register,” Nderitu expressed.
She noted that the 6.8 million target had been informed by the projected number of Kenyans getting new identification cards (IDs), the main requirement to register as a voter, but the turnout was painting a contrasting picture.
In urging citizens to register, Nderitu warned against last-minute registration, adding that it brought logistical challenges upon the Commission. She emphasised the need to register before the end of the registration exercise, when there were no queues and minimal disruption.
In a statement released on November 2, IEBC revealed that newly registered voters numbered 90,020. Meanwhile, 15,619 people transferred their voter details to different polling stations, while 188 updated their particulars.
Nairobi County recorded the highest number of new registrations at 16,512, followed by Kiambu with 9,917, and Machakos with 4,026.
Other counties with notable figures included Mombasa (3,967), Meru (3,128), Nakuru (3,265), and Murang’a (3,330).
Counties with the lowest registration numbers included Tana River with 130, Samburu with 319, and Isiolo with 312.
Still, Nderitu disclosed that after the November 27 by-elections, IEBC would proceed to conduct mass voter registration, which would involve the Commission going to polling stations and schools. This is different from the ongoing CVR, which is limited to IEBC offices across the 290 constituencies. By