Nairobi: Gem legislator, Elisha Odhiambo, has urged the youth in Nyanza to register in large numbers as voters so that the region can secure its rightful share of the national cake. Speaking in his Gem constituency, Odhiambo emphasized that the number of registered voters plays a key role in the allocation of national resources, hence the need for all national identity card holders to register.
According to Kenya News Agency, the MP noted that while young people have been active in holding leaders accountable through demonstrations, many fail to take the crucial step of registering as voters to determine their preferred leadership democratically. "It is not enough for the Gen Z to demonstrate against authority but fail to register as voters," he said. "I am calling upon you to register so that we can increase our numbers and earn a place at the national table with votes that count."
His appeal comes as the Siaya County Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Elections Coordinator, Catherine Bulinda, revealed that the county has achieved only two percent of its voter registration target a week after the exercise began. Addressing the press in her Siaya town office, Bulinda said the county has registered only 356 new voters out of a target of 17,873.
"This is very low given the population of eligible voters," she said, adding that registration was ongoing in five of the six constituencies. She clarified that voter registration was not taking place in Ugunja Constituency, which is preparing for a by-election in November 2025.