A section of political leaders in Garissa have called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to extend the mass voter registration exercise for 30 more days.
The leaders observed that IEBC has not been able to meet its own target and suggested that the commission extends the period and undertakes sensitization for more Kenyans to register as voters.
Speaking today, Sunday at a Garissa hotel, Amani National Congress (ANC) Deputy Party Leader Captain Abdi Yare attributed the low voter registration in North Eastern to the ongoing drought in the region, which has forced the nomadic communities to move across borders in search of water and pasture.
“It is a reality that the IEBC has not been able to meet the targeted number of registered voters it set and we need to register as many new voters as possible to enable Kenyans exercise their democratic right and elect leaders of their choice,” Yare said.
He called for establishment of mobile registration centres for all pastoralist communities who have moved into far off places with their livestock.
“IEBC should come up with mechanisms to reach our people who have moved into the interior parts of the region in search of water and pasture for their livestock,” he appealed.
“We also need voter registration centres at the water points where people are concentrated as they fetch or bring their livestock to drink water especially during this drought season,” he added.
Former Garissa Township Mayor, Siyat Osman, noted that people are out looking for water and pasture for their livestock while others are struggling to put food on their tables, hence, not getting time to visit the registration centres.
By Erick Kyalo
