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Mugirango Poll Registration Is Too Slow, Say Hopefuls

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Published on Tuesday, 06 April 2010 20:29

A group of South Mugirango constituency hopefuls have raised concern over the slow pace of voter registration. Immediate former MP Omingo Magara, Ibrahim Ochoi, Manson Oyongo, and Rose Obara said the exercise is slow. Kanu's Joshua Ondora and ODM's Gideon Moreka expressed the same sentiments.

They asked the Interim Independent Electoral Commission to ensure voters, who participated in the last general election and whose names are missing in the voters', roll are registered. Ochoi told the IIEC to take the registration seriously. "It is shocking that in some polling stations there are no stamp pads," he said. They said hundreds of voters who participated in the December 2007 general election have been turned away from various registration stations in the constituency because their names are missing in the register.

However, IIEC commissioner Ken Nyaundi said voters, whose names are missing in the polling station registers, will have their details checked in the principal register. "We have instructed our clerks to take details of such cases and not to turn voters away," he told the Star. "The exercise is slow and turning away voters may lead to apathy. The commission should address the issue in time. There are also delays in delivery of registration materials to centres," said Ford People aspirant Oyongo.

"We shall post adverts in local dailies and vernacular stations next week to sensitise the people of South Mugirango that they have to register within the 30 days given," commissioner Nyaundi said.

Magara asked the IIEC to ensure youth who have attained the age 18 are registered. "The IIEC has done a good job so far but turning voters away over missing names is a serious anomaly. The elections coordinators should know this is an issue that affects people's lives and treat it seriously," Magara said. He appealed to constituents to register in large numbers ahead of the April 20 deadline.

He blamed IIEC for not communicating clearly that South Mugirango voters have 30 days to register as opposed to 45 days countrywide.