Court orders IEBC to extend voter listing exercise until November 9

A farmer from Kaptagat in Uasin Gishu County Patric Cherono during an interview at Eldoret High Court on November 1,2021. He sought the court to compel the IEBC from closing the doors on voter registration for the next 9 days. [Christopher Kipsang, Standard]

The High Court has extended the voter registration exercise in Eldoret, giving those who haven’t registered a chance to exercise their civic duty by November 9.

This is after an activist from Uasin Gishu County obtained orders from the High Court sitting in Eldoret yesterday, following a successful application under a certificate of urgency.

Issuing the orders, High Court Judge Eric Ogola said the exercise is to continue until November 9 when the application filed by Patrick Toroitich Cherono is heard.

“Pending the hearing and determination of the application, a prohibitory order be and is hereby issued prohibiting the first respondent (IEBC) or its agents acting under its authority from closing the national voter registration exercise,” reads the order.

Cherono, in his petition, sought orders from the court to compel the IEBC to continue with the mass registration to allow more citizens to register. Cherono, through his lawyer Kaira Nabasenge, said that since the IEBC launched the mass voter registration, which targeted at least 4.5 million new registered voters on October 4, only 760,000 new voters have been registered across the country.

He told the court that bearing in mind challenges brought about the Covid-19 pandemic, Kenyans who have attained 18 years should be given ample time to exercise their right of registering as voters.

Cherono indicated that it is now apparent that despite the low voter turnout, the electoral commission may not extend the mass voter registration citing financial constraints.

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