Former Judiciary Chief Registrar Anne Amadi has called for more broadened voter education by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Speaking during her interview for the IEBC chairperson job on Monday, March 24, Amadi expressed that IEBC also needed to teach Kenyans why they should vote.
She opined that the voter education exercise should not only be focused on how to vote and the use of the ballot papers.
Amadi explained that the broadened voter education would help Kenyans participate in the democratic process and also elect leaders who can bring change to the country.
Read More
"I know that the IEBC engages extensively in voter education, and my view has always been that it shouldn't just be about how to vote or how to use the ballot, but also about why I should vote," she stated.
"Am I choosing leaders who will ensure these things happen? We must continue engaging at all levels, from Parliament and the Senate to the general public and other stakeholders so that we can develop a shared vision for this nation."
Voting and quality of leadership have been part of the public discourse following the debate of the Finance Bill 2024 and the protests that came after.
In particular, young people were encouraged to participate in the elections through registration and actual voting to ensure that good leaders were elected.
With the drive for voter registration, many stakeholders including the youth and religious organisations pushed for the reconstitution of IEBC to enable Kenyans to register as voters.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto also announced the free issuance of ID cards - a move that will enable many Kenyans to get the document that is required for voter registration.
"I have said that the bias in the issuance of IDs should be removed. All citizens should be given IDs.
"I also want to announce here in Kibra that IDs should be issued without any charges and any bias," the Head of State announced.
Read Also: Ruto Announces Free Issuance of IDs
Initially, Kenyans were required to pay Ksh300 to get the IDs.
As projected by the IEBC secretariat, the plan is to register 5.7 million new voters by 2027.
