Speaking today at the Sapphire Hotel, Hon. Munywoki Kyalo issued a strong appeal to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), urging its Chief Executive Officer to resume continuous voter registration immediately. Hon. Kyalo argued that halting the exercise is illegal and infringes on the rights of Kenyans to register as voters.
According to Hon. Kyalo, the former IEBC Chairman, Wafula Chebukati, only gazetted the suspension of voter registration for the period between May 4, 2022, and March 13, 2023, to facilitate the 2022 General Election and the subsequent post-election audit. He noted that no official directive has since been issued to justify the continued suspension of voter registration beyond that period.
“The right to register as a voter is a constitutional guarantee,” Hon. Kyalo stated. “It is unacceptable for the IEBC to arbitrarily deny Kenyans this fundamental right. The CEO’s instruction to officers to stop registering voters has no legal backing and must be challenged.”
Hon. Kyalo gave the IEBC a seven-day ultimatum to resume the exercise, warning that failure to comply would compel him to take legal action. “If the IEBC does not act within a week, I will move to court to ensure Kenyans are allowed to exercise their democratic rights,” he added.
The call for continuous voter registration comes as Kenya gears up for critical by-elections and preparations for the next general election. Political leaders and civil society groups have consistently emphasized the importance of ensuring all eligible Kenyans have an opportunity to participate in the electoral process.
Efforts to reach the IEBC for comment were unsuccessful, but the issue is expected to spark debate on the Commission’s commitment to upholding electoral transparency and inclusivity.
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