Lack of identification documents challenge to electoral process – Official

More than 34,000 adults in Igembe, Meru County risk failing to exercise their democratic rights to choose leaders of their choice in the next General Election over lack of necessary documents.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) coordinator for Igembe Central, Peter Kaindio Mauta, speaking in Maua town, said that majority of adults are not eligible voters since they lack the required documents to register as voters and subsequently cast their ballots.

According to the Kenya Bureau of Statistics, Igembe Central sub county has a population of over 200,000.

Kaindio noted that in the recent mass registration exercise, only 8,000 voters were listed in the area.

He added that although the voter registration exercise was a continuous process, the uptake of national Identification Cards by the residents still remains a challenge to the electoral process.

He noted that there are over 60,000 eligible voters in the area but the number may not be achieved with the high cases of lack of ID cards.

Kaindio challenged the residents to take up the challenge and apply for ID cards and register as voters.