CORD leaders to rally youth for voter registration

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has urged governors and MPs to champion mobilisation and voter registration ahead of the 2017 polls.

In a calculated game plan to clinch the presidency in the next General Election, Raila said massive registration of voters was key to defeating Jubilee in 2017.

In a closed door meeting at Raila's Opoda Farm on Saturday, attended by CORD governors, MPs and MCAs, the politicians were assigned the critical role of ensuring eligible youth and adults are captured in the voter register.

Among the governors present were Evans Kidero (Nairobi) and his deputy Jonathan Mueke, Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia), Cornel Rasanga (Siaya), Okoth Obado (Migori) and Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay).

The leaders later spoke at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology grounds in Bondo during the commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of the death of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga as well as that of Raila's son, Fidel, who died last year.

The CORD leaders accused Jubilee of widespread corruption, intimidation of the Opposition and weakening of constitutional institutions such as the Judiciary, the National Police Service, the Auditor General's office and limiting civil liberties.

"It is a chance to register as voters and ensure all our youth are sensitised to participate in the 2017 election, a role which CORD leaders must remain committed to," said Raila.

He added: "We are building a movement for change that will redefine Kenya's politics. We have a big team and an inexhaustible reservoir of players who will continue to champion the rights of Kenyans and defend the Constitution."

CORD co-principal Moses Wetang'ula said it was time to shame the Jubilee administration at the ballot and said that IEBC had been starved of funds and cannot carry out comprehensive and continuous voter registration.

"When the exercise begins, we must monitor and ensure voters are duly registered and ready to take part in the election in huge numbers to vote out Jubilee," Mr Wetang'ula said.

The Bungoma senator criticised the Government for "profiling and targeting" strong CORD leaders for intimidation and persecution in a bid to weaken the movement.

"We must stand up and be counted as people who oppose the reversal of freedoms and liberties enshrined in the Constitution. That act will only be done by all of us registering as voters," Wetang'ula said.

ODM Chairman John Mbadi said CORD said he was tired of crying over electoral malpractices and the solution lay in massive mobilisation and turn-out on voting day.