Siaya: The recent directive by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) requiring voters who registered before 2012 to re-register is a step towards eliminating ghost voters, according to Alego-Usonga Member of Parliament Samuel Atandi. The legislator emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that it is long overdue and necessary for cleaning the voter register.
According to Kenya News Agency, Atandi expressed his gratitude to the IEBC chairperson, Erastus Edung Ethekon, for taking decisive action to address this issue. He noted that persistent complaints regarding the credibility of the electoral register have been a concern for many, including former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who has frequently highlighted the need for a cleaner register.
Atandi stressed that the current register contains numerous non-existent voters who must be removed to ensure fair elections. He urged Kenyans to support the IEBC’s efforts and emphasized the necessity of preventing electoral fraud in future elections.
The MP also called on residents of Nyanza to participate actively in the ongoing voter registration process. He expressed concern over the low voter registration numbers in counties such as Siaya, Migori, Homabay, and Kisumu, despite a significant number of youths acquiring identity cards.
Atandi urged individuals who have applied for identity cards to collect them and register as voters. As the chairman of the budget committee in the national assembly, he highlighted the government’s commitment to addressing historical injustices in the region by ensuring equitable development across the country.
He mentioned that President William Ruto’s administration is focusing on new development projects in various sectors, including roads, health, water, and electricity transmission, to promote balanced growth nationwide.
