Former American President Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as the rule of the people, for the people and by the people.
Despite Kenya being a democratic State, some of our leaders seem to be undermining citizens' rights.
Several leaders including Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho have come up with different measures to ensure residents register as voters in order to take part in the next general election.
“I am appealing to bodaboda, tuktuk and matatu drivers to refuse to carry passengers who do not have voters cards because this is the only way we are going to change our destiny and the generation who will come after us,” said Joho, during a past rally.
His Lamu counterpart Issa Timamy urged shopkeepers and other traders not to sell goods to unregistered customers.
“I am appealing to all shopkeepers across the county and other traders to restrict their customers in case they are not registered as voters. Voting is a right to all Kenyans which we cannot take for granted,” he said.
This should not be the case because each Kenyan has a right to choose the leaders of his or her choice. This also means that each citizen has a right to snub the polls.
Joho, Timamy and other leaders from various parts of the country who have taken the registration exercise too far should allow Kenyans to exercise their right to vote as they wish.
Reports indicate that some leaders have even gone to the extent of calling for the arrest of unregistered persons.
As much as the opposition is looking for ways to unseat President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto in the August polls, democracy must prevail.
Registering as a voter is not mandatory in the Kenyan Constitution.