The state and politicians in Migori have termed the low number of new voters in the ongoing mass registration pathetic.
Migori county commissioner Meru Mwangi said the number, with only days to the end of the exercise,“is very pathetic, we have talked to youths to register and the language is not appealing.”
By last Friday, the county had only registered 19,800 new voters out of an IEBC target of 126,446 new voters in Migori.
“We had a daily expectation of registering 2,900 new voters, but we register less than 1,000 which is less than half of our daily numbers,” Mwangi said on Friday.
He said they need support from elected leaders to help sensitise the community so that a lot of youths will be ready for the forthcoming political exercise.
Mwangi spoke at Ragana village during the homecoming celebration of PEFA national bishop John Okinda, who was elected as the vice chairman of National Council of Churches of Kenya.
The function was attended by ODM leader Raila Odinga’s wife Ida, Migori Senator Ochilo Ayacko, Migori Woman Representative Pamela Odhiambo, nominated MP Dennitah Ghati, Suna West MP Peter Masara and Nyamira deputy governor James Gesami.
“We need to start seeing voting as a right enshrined in democracy and we need all Kenyans to access this right,” Ida said.
Ayacko said the low turnout in the country should be a wake-up call for government to ensure ease in getting national identification cards, which is a main impediment.
“Across the country targets are yet to be reached and we need to push it through for democracy to be seen as a right,” Ayacko said.
On Thursday, Migori MCAs vowed to use their two weeks recess to boost numbers of registered voters in the ongoing one month mass registration.
“We are dismayed with the figures we have and starting October 21 members and the Orange Democratic Movement leaders will push the numbers,” Nestory Owiyo, the assembly majority leader said.
Speaking at the assembly grounds together with Migori ODM leader Philip Makabong’o and other MCAs, Owiyo said they will put up a joint effort to boost the numbers.
“The numbers are disheartening and we have formed a team which will collect funds to help transport new voters to registration stations and ensure new identification cards are distributed to owners,” Owiyo said.
Makabong’o said while the low numbers have been experienced across the country, as a county they were worried because we are keen in putting ODM leader Raila Odinga in State House.
“We are very keen on ensuring the numbers are high and already the team will move across 40 wards for the last minute drive,” he said.
Nominated MCA Grace Oyamo said the main agenda will be to ensure identification cards are collected on time and the mass registration time is capitalised.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
