IEBC begins voter registration in West Pokot, Trans Nzoia

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has launched its annual voter education week in West Pokot and Trans Nzoia counties.

West Pokot Returning Officer John Mwangi said the one-week exercise targets to register over 200,000 voters in the county. West Pokot had 180,032 voters in 2017, which is one of the lowest figures in the country.

“We target to register voters in Kacheliba, Kapenguria, Sigor and Pokot South constituencies. We are also sensitising locals on the roles of the IEBC. They have questions as voters and we are responding to them accordingly,” said Mr Mwangi in Makutano.

The IEBC official will also visit churches on Sundays to reach residents who will be unable to access their registration centres because of poor terrain.

“We would like to reduce congestion towards the election period. Special groups and youths should also turn out because they will get ample time to register as voters. We are also doing transfers from one electoral area to preferred electoral areas,” Mwangi said.

He said the campaign will educate the public on election offenses, registration requirements and requirements for one to contest for political seats.

In Trans Nzoia West, Deputy County Commissioner Abednego Muli asked leaders to mobilise residents to come out and register.

Speaking in Kitale town, Mr Muli asked IEBC officials to identify where they needed assistance and how they could be assisted to meet their targets.