• The Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission is targeting to register more than 1.3 million new voters in Nyanza ahead of the general election.
• Mmuma warned aspirants found engaging in chaos during campaigns will not be given party tickets.
The IEBC's target of listing 1.3 million new voters in Nyanza can be achieved if politicians mobilise residents, Jubilee secretary general Raphael Tuju has said.
He said some aspirants are concentrating on their campaigns as they look for party tickets instead of mobilising eligible residents to register as voters.
“I know party nominations are coming and every aspirant wants to win. But I appeal to politicians to look at the bigger picture of helping us achieve the voter listing target,” Tuju said.
He was speaking on Saturday during a meeting with aspirants in Diakonia, Kabondo Kasipul constituency.
There are six counties in Nyanza including Nyamira, Homa Bay, Kisii, Migori, Kisumu and Siaya.
The IEBC is doing its second and final mass registration across the country. The second mass voter listing started on January 17 and is expected to end on February 6.
Tuju also urged politicians in the region to help popularise the Azimio La Umoja Movement.
He said modalities are being put in place for Jubilee and ODM to conduct joint party primaries.
ODM leader Raila Odinga is expected to be unveiled as Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate.
Tuju said they will form a coalition and field one candidate. He was accompanied by ODM national election board chairperson Catherine Mumma and party executive director Oduor Ogwen.
“We’re currently working on rules which will govern the process of nomination. In Nyanza, we may prioritise giving the coalition tickets to aspirants who lead in mobilising people to register as voters in the general poll,” he added.
Mmuma warned aspirants found engaging in chaos during campaigns will not be given party tickets.
She said nomination rules will be strictly followed to ensure the process remains credible.
The ODM official asked politicians from the region to adopt a strategy that would enable them to register people.
“Aspirants should be humble and help in mobilising people to register largely as voters. Certificates won’t be given to people who focus on using photos of Raila to campaign for their personal interest,” Mumma said.
Tuju and the team visited Migori, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Siaya counties and urged leaders to ensure all eligible people register as voters.
Mumma asked ODM politicians to forget their differences which make them forget the presidency.
“ODM has a good structure from the grassroots which can help officials succeed in mobilising all eligible people to register as voters and meet the target,” she added.
Others present included MPs Lillian Gogo (Rangwe), Eve Obara (Kabondo Kasipul), former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, former Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga and Lake Basin Development Authority chairman Odoyo Owidi.
Gogo and Obara pledged to work hand in hand with other elected leaders to improve voter registration through resource allocation.
“We are in talks as elected leader in this county to ensure concerted efforts in mobilising residents to register as voters," Gogo said.
Owidi said they had come up with a gratification strategy in which anybody who registers as a voter in is rewarded with Sh200.
“We want as many people to register as possible. In Kasipul, just register as a voter and I will give Sh200,” Owidi said.
Edited by A.N