Battle for numbers: Low turnout as IEBC starts mass voter registration

Low turnout and calls for the IEBC to increase the number of registration clerks marred the first day of mass voter registration as the electoral agency started the exercise across the country.

The 30-day exercise started on a low key on Monday, with a handful of people turning up to be registered as voters in various parts of the country.

The electoral body targets at least six million new voters, setting the stage for a fierce battle among the bigwigs for the voting bloc that has the potential of tilting the outcome of the upcoming election.

A spot check by the Star in various stations across the country showed that there were at least two clerks per station, with most of the centres recording low turnout.

In Nyandarua, registration centres in Ndaragwa constituency had at least two voter registration clerks.

In Ritaya primary school, within Kiriita ward, the voter registration clerks said they had registered less than three people for the past two hours.

“The exercise has commenced today but the turnout is very low. We attribute it to being the first day and a working day and so people are held up at work,” Alfred Kihiu, a clerk,  said.

“We are hopeful many people will show up as the day goes by. We are doing a digital voter registration using a Biometric Voter Registration, kit.

"An eligible voter must present himself or herself to the registration officer with his/her original identification document at the designated registration centre during working hours. The applicant will then fill the registration form (Form A),” he added.

In 2017, the county had 335,634 registered voters with 654 polling stations.

The exercise also started sluggishly in Kitui where most stations recorded poor turnout.

The county IEBC coordinator, Gogo Nguma, said there were three clerks in each of the 40 wards in the county.

He, however, lamented about the low number of people who came out to list as voters

“The other challenge we are facing is that most wards in our county are too vast, thus the problem of residents reaching the registration centres,” Nguma said.

"However, we have put in place a mobile timetable to move the clerks from one point to another so that we can reach more people,” he added.

In Nyamira, the IEBC officials urged the youth to come out and register as voters in readiness for next year's general election.

“Taking part in an election is not only an exercise but also a right to elect our leaders who will help us develop our society,” David Kiplangat, the constituency returning officer, said.

“I call upon every one of us who has not registered to come out and register as voters for the sake of our communities,”  he added.

Nyamira has four constituencies—West Mugirango, Kitutu Masaba, North Mugirango and Borabu.

Kitutu Masaba has six wards—Rigoma, Gachuba, Kemera, Magombo, Manga and Gesima.

The constituency has 21,445 registered voters and the IEBC targets to register 3,000 others.

In Vihiga, local leaders urged the commission to increase the number of clerks to ensure all eligible voters are listed.

“Voting is a constitutional right of every Kenyan. If the commission does not have enough funds, it should raise the matter with Parliament so that more funds are allocated,” Woman Rep Beatrice Adagala said.

Adagala said the current three clerks deployed per ward may not achieve the targeted numbers.

“For instance, some wards here in Vihiga county can’t be served by three clerks, due to their huge population size,” she said.

“In Luanda, Emabungo, Luanda South and Wemilabi wards are being served by three clerks this means many people are going to be left out in this process of registration.”

Adagala urged Kenyans to take national identity cards saying this is what will be used to register as voters and vote as well.

“We have not passed any laws on how the Huduma number will be used, so for now let no one tell you that you are going to use it,” she added.

-Edited by SKanyara