Acquire IDs ahead of 2017 polls, Raila tells youth

Coalitions for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader Raila Odinga has once more urged youth to acquire national identification cards and register as voters ahead of the 2017 General Election.

Speaking during a youth dinner held at Bomas of Kenya Friday evening, the opposition chief also called on Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members to recruit new supporters in all the 47 counties as this would boost the party’s popularity across the country.

“We want to recruit all the youth by ensuring they have ID cards and voters cards so that we do a peaceful revolution by winning the 2017 polls,” said Odinga.

Raila said the party will depend on the youth to gain power in 2017.

ODM youth league Chairman John Ketora echoed Raila’s sentiments, saying: “This is the first activity but we are going to do more activities in the grassroots to ensure the party gain popularity.”

A section of CORD leaders had last week accused the government of irregular issuance of ID cards, saying the Jubilee team was manipulating this key process to deny the Opposition victory in the 2017 polls.

Interior CS Joseph Nkaiserry refuted these claims, instead telling leaders that it is their responsibility to mobilize youth to register and collect IDs.

ODM held the youth dinner summit at Bomas of Kenya, with the aim of popularizing the 10-year-old party.

Party Secretary General Senator Agnes Zani, Langata MP Joash Odhiambo and other ODM leaders were in attendance at the function.