Kibaki concerned over low voters registration

By Patrick Beja    

President Kibaki has urged Kenyans to register as voters in large numbers to fully participate in the next elections.

The Head of State on Tuesday expressed concern that many Kenyans are still reluctant to register to vote saying it will enable them influence development policy in future.

“Kenyans have the best time to participate in choosing the leaders they want and should register as voters,” he said.

He said it was by taking part in the electoral process that citizens would influence the political and economic agenda of the counties and the country.

“I appeal to residents of the Coast and indeed all Kenyans to fully participate in the country’s democratic process. This begins by registering as voters. I appeal to all Kenyans of age to take advantage of the ongoing voter registration exercise to enable them vote in the forthcoming elections,” President Kibaki said.

President Kibaki made the remarks when he commissioned the Sh10 billion Kipevu 111 power plant in Mombasa.

The plant which generates 115 megawatts of power supply to the national grid which constructed by Kenya Electricity

Generating Plant (Kengen) from proceeds realized through a local infrastructure bond.

Present were Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi, PS Patrick Nyoike, Kengen chief executive officer Mr Edward Njoroge and Head of Public Service Francis Kimemia among others.

Earlier, Coast Provincial Commissioner Mr Samuel Kilele said the separatist Mombasa Republican Council (MRC)  which had called for vote boycott had been crushed and residents should freely register as voters and participate in the next general election.

“Those who threatened to disrupt the national examinations and the voter registration have failed in their plans. There are no more threats and residents should freely register as voters,” Kilele said.

Meanwhile, President Kibaki asked public institutions in the country to emulate KenGen’s example in raising development funds to augment resources provided by the Government.

He noted that a robust economic growth coupled with fast rising population levels have accelerated the demand for electricity in the country.

The head of state noted that the total installed electricity capacity at 1500 megawatts against a peak demand of 1300 megawatts leaves little room for capacity breakdown or becomes grossly inadequate under serious drought conditions.

He also noted that the country’s electricity per capita consumption of 170 kilowatts hours was low.

“In addition, the national electricity connectivity is 30 percent of the population,” he noted.

The President said Kenya intends to grow electricity generation capacity to 21,000 megawatts in the next 17 years to provide the projected peak demand of 17,000 megawatts and a reserve margin of 23 percent.

“It is anticipated that by 2030, more than 90 percent of Kenya’s population will be connected to power supply particularly from the national grid,” he said.

He said the country’s strategy was to diversify the electricity generation mix with a sharp focus on green energy sources such as solar, geothermal and wind power.