A Kiambu based political analyst has blamed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for the voter registration apathy being witnessed in the ongoing countrywide voter listing exercise.
Peter Ngure claims that IEBC should take the blame over the low voter registration turn out being experienced at various registration centers across the country.
The analyst observes that IEBC did not conduct adequate voter sensitisation campaigns to educate Kenyans on the need to register as voters.
“The IEBC is to blame for the nationwide voter apathy being witnessed,” he said during an interview on Wednesday.
Mr Ngure further claims that IEBC has left politicians to conduct voter sensitisation campaigns. "The IEBC should have been the one encouraging voters to register and not politicians as being seen,” he said.
Mr Ngure noted that the IEBC might not meet its target in the ongoing mass voter registration if it does not start massive voter sensitisation campaigns in the remaining period.
The analyst at the same time said that failure by political leaders to deliver on their mandate has angered voters hence voter apathy.
He added that voters feel abandoned and cheated by politicians who promise to deliver but later fail.
The ongoing voter registration exercise has seen low numbers turn out to register with IEBC saying that it might not meet its target to register six million new voters.
While releasing voter registration statistics on Tuesday, the IEBC blamed voter apathy to the drought and famine facing some parts of the country.
The Wafula Chebukati led commission while ruling out extending the voter listing exercise said that it will devise mechanisms to reach out to eligible voters in areas worst hit by drought and famine.