•He said the problem was not the duration but politics that have made some Kenyans believe their votes don't count.
•The governor said the voter listing period does not matter if people feel disfranchised.
Image: DICKENS WASONGA
Migori Governor Okoth Obado has blamed empty rhetoric and politics of exclusion for low voter listing in the country.
Speaking to the Star on Tuesday, Obado disagreed with ODM MPs who called for an extension of the exercise.
He said the problem was not in the duration but politics that have made some Kenyans believe their votes don't count.
“We have reckless politicians who have used the time allocated for registration to tell Kenyans who should be supported instead of mobilizing them to register,” he said.
Obado said most voters are worried that certain political parties already have preferred candidates and therefore do not see the need to register.
The governor said the voter listing period does not matter if people feel disfranchised.
He said many youths are raising concerns about the conduct of certain political parties.
“We must give the youth and other Kenyans the chance to decide their political destiny without undue influence,” Obado said.
A section of ODM MPs on Tuesday asked the IEBC to extend mass voter listing by two months.
Leading the calls, Public Accounts Committee chairman Opiyo Wandayi asked the commission to resubmit budget proposals to cover a proper mass voter registration exercise.
The Ugunja MP appealed to IEBC to ensure registration kits are provided in every polling station.
“The exercise should run for two consecutive months, covering November and December,” Wandayi told the Star.
The legislator said voter listing is the most important exercise in any electoral calendar and cannot be handled casually.
Wandayi called on the national assembly to approve the additional IEBC budget in the supplementary estimates.
He said the government must mobilize Kenyans to participate in the exercise.
His sentiments were echoed by his Gem counterpart Elisha Odhiambo.
Odhiambo said voter registration is an important ingredient in the elections and the majority of youths in his constituency were yet to register.
“They have petitioned me to appeal for an extension of the registration period,” he said
Siaya Woman Representative Christine Ombaka on Tuesday said an extension of the exercise was necessary.
“Voter registration should have started two years ago, giving people ample time to get their IDs and voters cards,” she said.
ODM party secretary general Edwin Sifuna urged the IEBC to conduct more civic education on the need to vote, especially amongst young people.
Sifuna said IEBC must build the confidence of voters in the electoral process.
By the close of last week, the commission had only registered 760,000 new voters out of the 4.5 million targeted.
On Monday ODM leader Raila Odinga took a mop-up campaign to Nyanza and Kisumu to improve voter listing.
He was accompanied by the party’s national chairman John Mbadi and deputy party leader Wickliffe Oparanya.
Raila said he was worried that his political base was reluctant to embrace the exercise.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said the commission requires Sh40.3 billion to conduct the 2022 general election with an additional Sh588 million for procuring items to be used in following Covid protocols.
However, the National Treasury has allocated a budget of Sh26.34 billion, leaving a deficit of Sh14.6 billion
Chebukati promised a free, fair, transparent and credible election.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris