Concerns Over Low Voter Registration in Coastal Kenya as lobby groups urge state to properly fund IEBC

KWALE,Kenya, Oct, 8 – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) this week kicked off a month long exercise to register millions of new voters ahead of the 2022 general elections.

Despite the exercise kicking off in earnest, it has also experienced a low turn out nationwide amidst calls for Kenyans to turn up in huge numbers to be registered.

In the Coast Region the IEBC had set a target of between 800,000 and 1.2 million new voters, this however may fail to be actualised if things continue as is according to various lobby groups in the region.

“IEBC should do sensitization so that Kenyans can come out in large numbers to register because the trend is worrying. Citizens need to exercise their democratic rights, we are worried that we are going to see less than 5 people registering a day or nobody at all,” Said Haki Africa rapid response officer Alexandre Mbela.

Designated registration points at various sub counties in the regions have recorded less than 1000 people on a daily basis according to observers.

Haki Africa CEO Hussein Khalid has also called on the government to allow the electoral body to receive funding directly, saying that lack of funds is one of the reasons behind low voter turnout amidst lack of public sensitization.

A section of donors have allegedly refused to fund the IEBC through the national treasury over alleged corruption.

Mswambeni Deputy County Commissioner James koskei meanwhile urged youth to be registered as voters as soon as possible.

“We have a target of 15,000 in Msambweni while the exercise is not going on well as expected as the number registering is low,” he said.

The exercise is still ongoing nationwide.