Stanley Kamau, CEO of Ahadi Kenya Trust, poses for a photo during a community outreach event urging leaders to bring voter registration services closer to residents.
By Peace Muthoka.
Ahadi Kenya Trust CEO Stanley Kamau has raised fresh concerns over the low voter registration turnout, urging national and county leaders to help bring registration services closer to the people. He warned that unless access improves, thousands of eligible voters may remain unregistered simply because they cannot reach distant electoral offices.
Speaking during a community outreach event, Kamau noted that voter registration has been ongoing for almost a month, yet the turnout remains extremely low. He linked the problem to the long distances residents must travel to access the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) headquarters and registration points.
He said many locals are too poor to afford transport to registration centres. “Some of these people are very poor. Others cannot even afford bus fare or any transport to go and register as voters,” Kamau said. He explained that the issue is not lack of interest but rather economic hardship and physical barriers that lock out many willing voters.
To ease the burden, Kamau and his team brought voter registration services closer to the community. He called on Members of Parliament, governors, women representatives, MCAs, and other leaders of goodwill to support IEBC officials at the grassroots so that every eligible person has a fair chance to register.
Kamau stressed that political progress depends on peaceful participation. “If you are talking about two terms, one term, or no term, the best way to achieve what you want is through the ballot,” he said. He urged citizens to avoid violence, abuse, and intimidation during political discussions and instead use their vote as the ultimate tool for change.
“There is no need for fighting or calling each other names. The only way to bring good governance to this nation is through the ballot,” he said. He encouraged communities to choose peace and exercise their democratic rights responsibly.
Kamau also highlighted the long travel time required for people to reach registration points. He compared it to the hours MPs spend travelling to Parliament to vote, noting that for ordinary citizens with fewer resources, the challenge is far greater.
He said the situation is especially hard on people with disabilities and elderly residents who cannot walk long distances. Without mobile registration units, he warned, these groups will continue to be excluded from the democratic process.
“If we are serious about voter registration, we must be serious about mobilizing IEBC to come to the grassroots by whatever means,” Kamau said.
He concluded by urging all stakeholders to champion inclusive voter registration, noting that a strong democracy begins with ensuring every citizen can access the process without hardship.
