The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has expressed its fears that it could fail to meet its targets in Naivasha due to lack of enough personnel in the vast constituency.
The commission noted that Naivasha was one of the largest constituencies in the country with over 145,000 registered voters.
This came amid reports of massive voter transfers mainly from flower farm workers who lost their jobs at the height of Covid-19 and had relocated to other areas in search of jobs.
As per the IEBC records, Naivasha has the highest number of registered voters in Nakuru county as the enhanced voter registration exercise that seeks 6m new voters kicks off.
According to the commission’s registration officer in Naivasha David Mbui, their clerks were working overboard to meet the set targets.
He said that the commission was seeking 33,351 new voters in the constituency despite the emerging challenges of funds and the number of clerks.
“Naivasha is one of the largest constituencies in the country and accessing some far-flung areas like Maella is a major challenge but we are coping,” he said.
Addressing the press in his office, Mbui said that they had BVR kits in every ward adding that their target was 371 new voters per day.
“We are currently doing badly in terms of registration as we recorded a partial 120 voters on the first day but with the on-going mobilization we expect the numbers to rise,” he said.
On the transfer of voters from one station to another, Mbui added that they were keenly monitoring the situation to make sure that there was no political influence.
He noted that the issue was common mainly along flower farms adding that this could have been contributed by job losses.
He at the same time challenged the youths to turn out in large numbers and be part of those who could make decisions in the next general elections.
One of the newly registered voters Stanley Omondi said that he was keen to be involved in the coming general elections slated for 2022.
“This is the first time I have registered as a voter and am asking my fellow youths to maintain peace as we head to the general elections,” he said.
Another voter Byron Oyugi noted that it was time for the newly registered voters to change corrupt leaders with fresh blood.
“For years youths have continued to suffer due to lack of jobs and this is the time we can change this by our vote,” he said.