Low Voter Turnout in Prisons, IEBC Official Explains Why

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday, August 8, 2022.jpg
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday, August 8, 2022.
Kenyans.co.ke

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) official on Tuesday, August 9, explained that the constant transfer of prisoners had contributed to the the low voter turnout at the King'orani Prisons in Mombasa.

Eucabeth Nyamando a presiding officer at the polling station expressed her disappointment in the low voter turnout in the correctional facility.

"We are being told that some of the prisoners come here for only two weeks then leave due to this most of the prisoners here are not registered in this polling station," Nyamando explained.

Prisoners Engaged in Work
Prisoners Engagaging in Work in prison in Kwale County in January 2019.
NMG

According  to Nyamando, out of the 34 registered voters, only 4 have exercised their civic right representing about 12 per cent of the registered voters.

She stated that despite efforts by the team to locate all the registered voters, no changes were witnessed. However, she stated that she was hopeful that others would turn up before 5pm when polls close.

"We have tried to locate them through the system and we have determined that some were not even registered here," she stated.

In addition, Nyamando announced that some progress was made to get Identity Cards (IDs) for some of the registered inmates to ensure they vote on time.

This is following the low turnout of voters as reported by IEBC. The commission noted that only 30% of the registered voters had cast their votes.

Inmates in Kenya are voting for the second time after voting in the 2017 general election when they were allowed to only vote for the post of the President.

"Prisoners will only be allowed to vote for the presidential seat. We are making proposals for regulation of their participation," Chebukati stated in 2017.

The move to only allow inmates to vote for the President was based on a prisoner's location, and the presidential post, according to the commission, was an overall seat.

IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati receives the first batch of the printed ballot papers on July 7, 2022.
IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati receives the first batch of the printed ballot papers on July 7, 2022.
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