Fresh registration a scheme to rig polls, CORD claims

By Grace Wekesa and Luke Anami

Kenya: The Jubilee Government plans to pre-rig the 2017 General Election, Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leaders claimed Saturday. 

They said fresh registration of persons has not been budgeted for and questioned why the Government was keen on pushing for a project which neither House of Parliament had discussed.

Speaking during the burial of Malava Sub Branch CORD Chairman Musavini Nambwa, CORD luminaries led by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula and Secretary General Anyang Nyong’o termed the move a ploy for corruption.

“Why does the Jubilee Government want to register all Kenyans afresh right now, even the under 18 citizens? They want to use the recent security problem in the country as an excuse yet we as CORD know their intentions is to rig the 2017 elections in advance,’’ said Wetang’ula.

They said the need for super ID cards, which will contain biometric information, must be driven from the county level, saying it could also be a ploy to make more money. “The registration should be conducted at county level as most of the services have been devolved,” he said.

Wetang’ula said the exercise announced by Deputy President William Ruto was a move to divert attention to pressing matters like insecurity and high cost of living.

“Kenyans are disillusioned right now and want to know when the price of sugar and fuel among other basic commodities will be reduced. The government should prioritise such matters and not claim to introduce digital registration,’’ said the Senate minority leader.

 His sentiments were echoed by Nyong’o who cautioned the government against the process, saying the 2014/2015 budget that is currently being drafted has not set aside funds for the process.

Digital registration

“I want to tell Deputy President William Ruto that the last population census was in 2009. The next one will be 2019. What you are planning to do is unnecessary and against the Constitution,” Nyong’o, who represented CORD leader Raila Odinga at the funeral, said.

He said the issue of electronic registration was deliberated upon by the Coalition Government and it did not succeed because it faced a lot of challenges. “The government must be transparent with registration of persons. Where is the money for the fresh registration when the budget to be read in June has not indicated such an exercise,’’ he claimed.

The two Senators said the new registration drive must be brought to Parliament for debate and scrutiny by relevant committees.

“CORD will not accept the registration process to be done shoddily, it must be brought to the country’s top houses for debate,’’ he said.

Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba said the registration of Kenyans must be done according to the demographic profiles of all regions.

 “This is a political game towards 2017 elections. We shall oppose the digital registration in the National Assembly and Senate. They have failed to provide laptops for class one pupils and now they have run out of ideas and under performed in service delivery to wananchi,’’ he said.

On the need to unite and present a formidable front come 2017, the leaders called for unity of purpose, urging the locals to register for IDs.

COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli said some two luhya leaders, who he did not name, were recently humiliated by the Jubilee government and wondered why they cannot be united.

“I was embarrassed to see leaders being humiliated in my presence. We must be respected by the Jubilee Government. We must work together irrespective of our political affiliations,” Atwoli said.

Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale urged Luhya leaders in the region to unite and work together.