Want to become MP? Build prisons before 2012

By Kipkirui K’Telwa

It will soon be easy to be elected Member of Parliament.Voter bribery, rigorous campaigns and vote buying would soon be a thing of the past.

Foresighted political strategists are looking at ways of ensuring that prisons are established in each constituency.

With prisoners and remandees having acquired the right to vote, it would not be difficult for shrewd politician to get elected.

One would only be required to throw a party for prisoners and talk nicely with prison boss so that he tells the inmates where the goodies came from. If it is true that he who pays the piper calls the tune, then why can’t he who controls the food server control the voter?

I am told there is no single list of all prisoners in Kenya.

So what would prevent the prison boss from saying, for example, 10,000 prisoners voted when actually only 100 did?

One of the requirement before one is registered a voter is the possession of national identity card or passport, which many prisoners do not have.

Prisons are protected areas and this is not about to change. Therefore, a few people upon clearance can access it. So who will give them civic education?

Will it be balanced induction or they will only get one side of the story? Will the ‘Red’ team be allowed to go into the prison facilities to ask the inmates to reject this divisive document?

I fear the ‘Yes’ team might promise to have them freed if this good document passes.

Suppose a few criminals go berserk on the polling day and burn the ballot material? How will the IIEC punish an already condemned person for breaking electoral laws?

Aren’t prisoners persons serving their punishment for wronging the society? What if the prisoners gang up and elect a freed criminal who has served his sentence?

But can a prisoner vote against the government?

Where else in the world do prisoners vote? This decision does not serve the public at all.