President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tour to appeal to voters to register entered its second day on Friday as he traversed Isiolo and Nyeri counties where he asked the youth not to be spectators in the exercise.
Uhuru appealed to those who are yet to register not to wait for the last days of the registration period but instead take the earliest opportunity to enlist as voters.
“As a patriotic Kenyan, you have a civic duty to register as a voter and participate in choosing the leaders you want,” the President said.
He spoke at various trading centres – among them Kiamariga, Kabiruini, Kiawairigi, Karatina, Mukurwe-ini, Othaya, Karima, Nyeri town and Chaka – where he stopped to educate residents, especially the youth, on the need to register as voters.
He reminded the youth that unless they registered as voters and took part in the August general election, chances were that a leader who does not represent their aspirations would be elected.
“It is in your best interest to register and participate in the elections as a voter and not as a spectator,” President Kenyatta said.
The President said it was unfortunate that the youth, who campaign intensely before the polls, become “mere observers’’ on the day of election because most of them do not register as voters.
“This trend should change in this year’s election. That is why we want all Kenyans, especially the youth, to register as voters,” he said.
By a show of hands, the residents who had turned out in their thousands at trading centres to receive the Head of State, assured him that they will ensure all those who are eligible to register as voters do so.
He also called on Jubilee members to get membership cards so as to participate in the party’s nominations, which he assured will be free and fair, and all aspirants given an equal chance.
Tomorrow, President Kenyatta is expected to be in Meru County on the third day of his visits to the counties.
--PSCU