Kenya: Leaders anxious over low voter registration in ODM strongholds

There are concerns that some Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MPs are sabotaging ongoing countrywide voter registration, which may deprive party leader Raila Odinga votes in the 2017 presidential race.

This comes in the backdrop of the latest opinion poll by Ipsos Synovate that shows Western and Nyanza electoral blocs lagging behind in voter awareness compared to other regions.

After Raila lost to President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013, this was partly blamed on failure by the Opposition leader’s supporters to turn out to cast the ballot.

In Western, where local politicians launched a campaign to register six million voters nearly two years ago, the pollster says only 10 per cent of residents are aware of the ongoing voter registration in their locality. And in Nyanza, only 17 per cent of residents are aware of the ongoing exercise, according to the survey.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is targeting to register eight million new voters by 2017.

Fears in ODM that some legislators are working with ‘the enemy’ to deny Raila victory in 2017 will further undermine voter registration, his supporters say. ODM Director of Political Affairs Opiyo Wandayi has claimed that there are some Jubilee sympathisers in the Orange party not keen to ensure the party leader becomes the next president.

“We will soon expose the Jubilee moles not driving the party’s agenda,” threatened Mr Wandayi.

Fearing Raila could lose his fourth stab at the presidency if people from his strongholds do not register in large numbers as voters, his allies are now seeking ways to ensure more supporters participate in the exercise.

Opinion is divided on why the ODM leader’s strongholds are behind in voter registration and majority also fail to turn out to vote. Although some party MPs blame the government for allegedly failing to issue identity cards (IDs) to enable residents register as voters, others point accusing fingers at their counterparts, saying they are not doing enough to boost the exercise.

Nyando politician Jared Okelo said internal rebellion in ODM is a major contributor to the low voter registration.

“Lack of internal democracy has made some members disillusioned to the extent that they do not see the need to champion for voter registration,” he said.

“The disenchanted MPs are aware that open defiance to the party leader could deal a blow to their political aspirations and have resorted to sabotage,” Mr Okelo said.

The low voter registration and turn-out has been a source of acrimony between politicians from Nyanza and Western region, with the Luhya community reported to have given Raila more votes than his Nyanza backyard in previous elections. Politicians from Western are considering fielding one of their own to vie for presidency in 2017 and are planning to register six million new voters to give them a head start.

Worried Raila

Lugari MP Ayub Savula, who has been spearheading the voter registration drive says the plan is still on course. “We want to obtain at least six million voters to give us a better bargaining power to be in the next government. The only problem is that most of the people who have applied for IDs have not received them,” he explained.

Raila is reportedly worried about the depressing numbers on voter registration in his strongholds.

He has urged his supporters to get IDs and register as voters or forget winning the 2017 General Election.

“Current records indicate that the people from the Jubilee strongholds have registered for IDs and voter cards more than those from CORD zones. This should change because, as you all know, leadership is captured through votes,” Raila said.

Poor voter turn-out has been blamed for Raila’s lose in his bid to be President. Indeed, an internal report released by IEBC last year during a postmortem of the 2013 elections indicated that thousands of registered voters in Raila’s strongholds did not turn up on election day.

According to the report, out of the 2,058,753 voters who did not show up at the polling stations despite having registered, 204,616 were from Western region while 220,288 were from Nyanza.

Besides, the report indicated that 895,617 people from Nyanza and 782,730 ID card holders from Western region did not register to vote in the 2013 elections.

Of the ID card holders who did not register as voters from Nyanza, 33 per cent were from Migori County, 26 per cent Homa Bay, 20 per cent Siaya, 23 per cent Kisii and 21 per cent Nyamira.

In Western, of the eligible voters who did not register to vote in previous elections, 36 per cent were from Bungoma County, 39 per cent Trans Nzoia while Busia and Kakamega counties each had 27 per cent of eligible but unregistered voters, according to the survey.

The recent survey has now spurred some local legislators to action. Angered by what they term “too much talk without action” from their counterparts, some MPs from Nyanza have started initiatives aimed at boosting the number of voters in the region.

Rallying residents

Nyatike MP Edick Anyanga said he was partnering with local chiefs to sensitise the public about the ongoing voter registration.

“I have also formed a team of 20 youths who are actively rallying residents to obtain voters card,” he said. “I unveiled this process in my constituency months ago and many people are registering as voters. If all CORD elected leaders act rather than just talking, then we can obtain the number we require to take us to State House,” said Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo.

Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang and Kabondo Kasipul MP Sylvance Osele have also formed separate teams of youths mobilising locals through various platforms, including social media. “This exercise will not end after the voter registration but we will continue to even rally residents to turn out in large numbers to vote,” Mr Osele added.