Maurice Alal, AfricaNews Reporter in Kisumu, Kenya
Kenyans streamed into the registration centers as the much publicized electronic voter registration targeting to register 18 million eligible voters kicked off yesterday countrywide.
Kenyans streamed into the registration centers as the much publicized electronic voter registration targeting to register 18 million eligible voters kicked off yesterday countrywide.
The exercise, the first of its kind to be adopted by the East African Country as away to curb election cheating and other irregularities kicked off to a good start in most parts of Kenya.
When API team visited one of the registration centers in Kisumu City, scores of would- be voters were already queuing. Daniel Owino, an IT expert working in the City was amongst the first people to arrive for the exercise.
“We are happy that the government has adopted this system which is not only efficient but is also fast. We are satisfied that this time cases of the dead ''coming back'' to vote on the polling day will not arise like alleged in the last elections where irregularities were rampant,” said Owino.
In Central Nyanza Region which covers Kisumu, Homabay and Siaya
Counties with 21 constituencies and 105 County Assemblies no hitch was reported on the first day of the exercise.
According to the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC)
Regional Coordinator for Central Nyanza Mr Rasi Masoud, IEBC officers were fully prepared for the exercise adding that the BVR kits meant for the area were available and asked the local residents to turn up in large numbers and register as voters.
He warned that the one month exercise will not be extended and therefore advised all the eligible voters in the region to take advantage of the period and avoid last minute rush that is likely to lock some of them from participating.
The regional coordinator disclosed that churches, schools, trading centers and markets among others will serve as registration centers where the IEBC clerks will be at hand to receive and guide those wishing to register.
“Issues like double registration, using data of the dead and double voting will not feature anymore with the adoption of this electronic voter registration system,” said Masoud.
In a major break from the past, Kenyans this time will only be required to produce their National Identification card (IDs) as proof to be allowed to vote in the forthcoming General Elections. They can also be allowed to use your passport.
In the last elections whose results were disputed forcing Kenyans to a coalition government, the manual voter registration was faulted with many observers saying it was open to rigging.
Although kits procured by the government from Canada arrived late Electoral body overseeing the exercise has assured Kenyans that they will beat the deadline and be ready to prepare and conduct free and fair elections.
Kenyans streamed into the registration centers as the much publicized electronic voter registration targeting to register 18 million eligible voters kicked off yesterday countrywide.
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