CORD accuses Government of favouritism in issuance of ID cards

ODM Secretary General Mr Ababu Namwamba, and the Director of Elections Mr Mr Junet Mohammed. The Opposition coalition is now alleging an elaborate scheme to rig the 2017 General Election through voter registration. (PHOTO: PETERSON GITHAIGA/ STANDARD)

The Opposition coalition is now alleging an elaborate scheme to rig the 2017 General Election through voter registration.

CORD has accused the Government of favouritism in the issuance of cards.

It accused Jubilee of facilitating supporters from its strongholds to acquire national identification (ID) cards while denying the same to those from CORD regions.

The Opposition said the ruling coalition was determined to disenfranchise regions that do not support President Uhuru Kenyatta's leadership.

Suna East MP and ODM Director of Elections Junet Mohamed in a statement to newsrooms accused the National Registration Bureau and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of assisting Jubilee to manipulate the electoral process.

Mr Mohamed said the bureau had launched a massive ID-registration drive in Uhuru's Central Kenya home turf targeting 1.5 million applicants.

"County commissioners are accompanied by registration clerks and officials of the IEBC who issue voters cards immediately identity cards are issued. There are clear instructions to the county commissioners and their juniors to make sure there is maximum issuance of ID cards in Jubilee strongholds," he alleged.

The complaints come after the Government launched a registration drive to ensure youth in Central Kenya acquired IDs with arrest threats issued to those who failed to produce IDs when asked.