The second phase of the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration exercise is underway.
This is after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission failed to achieve its target of registering new eligible voters, in the first phase.
The exercise mainly targets the youth who forms the bulk of the Kenyan population. Many of them will be voting for the first time.
According to the 2019 census, the country had a total population of 48 million people out of which, 75 per cent are below 35 years.
In the first phase of ECVR that ran from October 4 to November 5, 1.5 million new eligible voters were registered.
This prompted the electoral body to go for the second phase of voter registration to reduce the variance.
The second phase runs from January 17 to February 6 and targets to register 4.5 million new voters.
This figure seems a mirage going by the sad state of affairs witnessed at the registration centres.
Many centres look deserted and are registering a low voter turnout.
This is also the case in the diaspora where only negligible figures of eligible voters have been registered.
Some of the targeted eligible voters are deliberately shunning the exercise.
Many of those avoiding the exercise say they don’t see the need to register as voters and participate in the coming polls.
They don’t trust their elected leaders who disappear immediately after elections only to reappear five years later seeking votes.
Others cite frustrations due to lack of employment opportunities and blame the leaders for their woes.
They say the leaders fail to legislate good fiscal policies that will spur economic growth and the creation of employment.
Recurrent runaway corruption in government is another factor, scaring away some of the eligible new voters.
Ignorance is also to blame for the low turn-out at the registration centres.
Many eligible voters being young, are not aware of their democratic right to participate in the elections.
Reports are citing the existence of numerous uncollected identification cards lying at the local administrative offices and Huduma Centres.
With less than a week before the end of the voter registration exercise, the government needs to move with speed to reverse the worrying trend.
IEBC should take a leading role in sensitising the public on the ongoing registration exercise and its importance.
This should be done both through mainstream media and social media.
The government should also empower local administrators to reach out to their subjects and sensitise them.
Politicians just like the electoral commission should be at the forefront in advising the electorate to register in large numbers.
They should not only woo voters to their political gatherings but use the opportunity to sensitise them on the importance of registering.
Putting all things constant, credible elections can only happen in an environment where there is tranquillity.
The government needs to assure its citizens of peaceful and credible elections.
Security should be beefed up in volatile areas like Kerio Valley, Northern Kenya and Lamu.
Voters need to be guaranteed their security during the voter registration exercise and election period. This will encourage many to visit the centres and register.
Collective action is a prerequisite to overcoming voter apathy.
We should all join hands to ensure that there is a conducive environment for everyone to exercise their constitutional right.
Via email
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
