Voters in Kajiado County have been urged to verify their registration details before the June 2 deadline.
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) County Returning Officer Festus Mucheke said it was important for all voters to verify their details to ensure that no one is locked out of the August 9 General Election exercise.
Speaking in Kajiado town during a public participation forum on the Draft Election Amendment Regulations 2022, Mucheke urged Kenyans to verify their details to ensure that no one is left out of the August 9 polls.
He revealed that for one to confirm their details, they can visit any IEBC office at the constituency level and present their identification cards or valid passport that was used to register as a voter.
“Verification of voter registration is on-going until the 2nd of June. I am calling on all residents to visit our offices to confirm that their details are captured correctly and for any errors to be corrected on time,” said the officer.
Mucheke added that registration details can also be confirmed via sending a text message to 70000 or by visiting the Commission’s portal (https://verify.iebc.or.ke).
The Returning Officer further noted that candidate registration will commence on the May 29- June 7 and all aspirants vying for various positions will present their documents at their offices to be cleared as candidates.
On the proposed amendments to election regulations, Mucheke said the public participation forums would ensure the public is sensitized on the proposed changes and given an opportunity to air their views.
According to Jonah Naibor, a youth representative, the commission’s education of the public on election regulations amendments was timely and would enable voters make informed decisions.
Naibor said he had gained a lot of knowledge on the role of IEBC and what is expected of him as a voter and called for more such forums ahead of the polls.
Kimcy Nasieku, National Coordinator Women Peace Committee Network, noted that the Election regulations amendments would enable women to exercise their democratic right fully.
Nasieku said a majority of women in remote areas, especially the uneducated ones, are often forced to vote by their husbands for specific candidates.
“We have seen during election day; wives being taken to the polling stations by their husbands and forced to vote for certain candidates that the husbands prefer. The election regulation amendments will enable women to exercise their democratic rights without being influenced or forced by others,” said Nasieku.
She added that the amendments also sought to define clearly on ‘assisted voters’ noting that any educated person who claims they are unable to vote without assistance will be deemed to have committed an election offence.
“We have in the previous election days seen educated people wanting to be assisted to vote to influence the outcome of the votes in a particular way. With the amendments this will be deemed an electoral offence” she said.
By Rop Janet
