DISMAL NUMBERS as IEBC falls 1.55M voters SHORT of two-week target

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced that only a total of 1,539,879 Kenyans have been registered as voters in the last two weeks.

The commission now says that those registered are only 25% of the 6.1 million set target in the 30-day exercise – a process that comes to an end on the 14th of February.

Speaking to the media, IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati singled out Kajiado, Kirinyaga and Kiambu as the leading counties in the voter registration while Vihiga, Nyeri, Kisii Kakamega, Bungoma, Siaya and Kitui counties recorded the lowest turnout in voter registration.

Chebukati further indicated that the low turnout in counties with the highest potential voting population is worrying, with drought and transfer of voters also playing a key role in the upsetting statistics.

While admitting to logistical challenges in areas have been affected by drought, the commission said that it had resolved to allow registration officers in the affected counties to avail registration services within the electoral areas where potential voters could have migrated to at the moment.

The electoral boss was however keen to note that the movement of the BVR kit shall still be confined within the constituency.

“In addition, the registration clerks in the affected counties have been directed to also accept transfer and change of particulars applications at their respective registration centres,” said Chebukati

With an overall target of six million, IEBC had indicated that for the country to achieve that target, the commission would need to register at least 200,000 new voters daily translating to 1.42 million voters a week.

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IEBC Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati Voter Registration registered voters Registration Officers

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