Voting Is Our Right Deny Us Not, IEBC Told

 Residents from Taita Taveta have cried foul play over what they regard as attempts by the Interim Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC attempt to bar them from voting in the forthcoming general election.

This is after a section of them were allegedly turned away by voter registration clerks when they showed up at polling stations for services they rightfully deserve.

Services such as transfer of polling station, editing of individuals registration particulars such as names, ID number and other details that were wrongly captured during their registration could not be changed at the polling station. The above-highlighted cases are referred to the constituency offices for further pursuance into the issues.

"I'm deeply disappointed by the turn up of the events. Voter registration officers passed by my home yesterday to check if I'm registered only to notify me that my credentials were wrongly captured into the system," said Stella Magiri, a resident of Mgange Nyika in Wundanyi constituency.

"As if that is not enough, the officers told me the error couldn't be rectified at the moment and that I have to travel all the way to Wundanyi town for the same. With three days away from the deadline for voter registration, I'm afraid I might miss out the election because of a sin I didn't commit," she added.

With the registration deadline set for Tuesday 14th February, most voters feel that they will be barred from participating in the elections.

 Lucas Mlunga opted for total deregistration from the voters' register after he was referred to the constituency office to transfer to Mgange constituency from Embakasi Nairobi.

"The regions constituency office is very far from my home. For me, going there will mean that my day is spoilt and my pocket bruised to some degree. This is a big punishment for the electorate. I'd rather be deregistered otherwise that will be a spoilt vote," cried frustrated Lucas.

"It's our humble plight that the IEBC will consider offering more services at the polling stations rather than just registering new voters," added Lucas.

The Wafula Chebukati led commission barred transfer and editing of voters information at the polling stations on grounds of involuntary voter transfer and edit of information witnessed after the end of the first Mass Voter Registration in 2016.

Will the commission change its mind or will it let a section of the population feel secluded in this important exercise that is costing the taxpayer billions of shillings? Only time will tell.