The Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) through the directorate of voter education and its partners launched the annual voter education week in Bomet which was flagged official by the County Election Manager Amos Obonyo.
The Bomet County Manager represented the National Chairman, Wafula Chebukati, in the official launch Monday. The exercise was also launched at county levels by all 47 County Elections Managers.
The activity according to the Commission is aimed at educating the general public and stakeholders on the scheduled activities on the calendar of the Commission.
In the speech read by the County Chairman on behalf of the Commission’s Chair, Wafula Chebukati, IEBC is anticipating to carry out a national voter registration exercise in the next financial year.
According to the Commission, their registration tally stands at 19, 649,041 registered voters and IEBC is targeting 20 million voters before the next General Election scheduled to take place on the second Tuesday of August 2022.
In this week’s voter sensitization, the Commission is aiming at increasing the public awareness of their mandate and plans of the commission around the electoral cycle.
Mr Obonyo, informed KNA, that his office will set sensitizing boots around markets at the constituency level for civic education to enlighten voters on voting system.
“After the launching, the exercise which is also happening at the Commission Headquarters in Nairobi, we are expecting our officers to move to all corners at the constituency levels. They are expected to carry out public sensitization at Chebunyo market in Chepalungu, today.” Explained Obonyo.
The Commission is also targeting to register at least 15,000 new voters countrywide during the annual voter education week.
According to Bomet County Election Manager, the Commission is also expected to carry out a Corporate Social Responsibility by helping vulnerable people from the community with social needs including distributing sanitisers in public schools.
“We are also expected to undertake Corporate Social Responsibilities program within the County, but with the strain in our budget this year we might not provide much but at least we will provide washing hand equipment to schools and sanitisers.”
By Lamech Arisa
