Low voter listing was due to poor timing

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had targeted to register two millions voters in one month, but has failed to hit the target. The most rational reason for the failure is poor timing.

The majority of the target group are those who acquired ID cards after the 2013 General Election.

These Kenyans are currently in colleges and universities, far  away from their residential homes where they are likely to vote from should elections be held in December or August.

Failure to consider having voter registration during school holidays was the first mistake.

Although mobilising voter registration is solely IEBC’s mandate, it did little on this and we observed politicians taking over this duty.

Why should I register as a voter if the same politicians who have dried our economy are the ones asking me to do so?

IEBC should engage all stakeholders on the way forward for the next elections. It should hit the metal while it is hot by clarifying all issues raised by observers in the just-concluded by-elections in Kericho and Malindi.