An Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) official has appealed to politicians in Gatundu South Constituency in Kiambu County to assist the commission in mobilising locals to register as voters.
The constituency IEBC coordinator, Emmanuel Muiruri who decried the low turn-out in the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise said there is need for political goodwill from the local politicians if the constituency has to register more voters.
Speaking today as the commission kicked off an annual voter education week aimed at creating awareness and educating masses on the need to register as voters Muiruri said politicians should come out and tell the public to register.
“Let them be at the forefront in educating the public on the need to register. The public tends to respond better to them than they do to us. We do not need the votes it is them who want the numbers,” he said.
He said that the turnout is still low because of the apathy of the residents who do not see the importance of participating in elections.
“In Gatundu South constituency for instance, since the commencement of the continuous voter registration exercise in May last year, we have registered less than 200 voters out of the targeted 4000.We want the public to shun the trend and take advantage of the awareness week and register,” Muiruri said.
He added that they will also bring on board the clergy in the awareness campaign.
He said that many people are at the moment not interested in registering because they prefer to register in their home constituencies at the last minute.
He said the campaign will vastly educate the public on election offenses, registration requirements and the requirements for one to contest for political seats.
The coordinator said there is need to make registration mandatory so that it becomes the responsibility of every Kenyan adult to ensure they report to any of the IEBC offices and register to take part in elections.