Registration of voters to end today
Reuben Mwambingu and Wycliff Kipsang
Kenyans who are yet to register as voters have until end of today to do so.
Eldoret High Court judge, Justice Eric Ogola lifted conservatory orders issued on Monday restraining the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) from ending the Enhanced Voter Registration exercise.
Justice Ogolla yesterday directed IEBC to ensure it concludes the ongoing enhanced voter registration by 5:30pm.
“I hereby order that the conservatory orders which I issued three days ago stopping the conclusion of a nationwide massive voter registration by IEBC have now been lifted.
However, IEBC has been given up to Friday 5:30pm as the deadline for new voter registration,” ruled Justice Ogolla.
The Judge lifted the order after hearing a petition from IEBC through its lawyer Moses Kipkogei who had asked the High Court to discharge its earlier orders of extension of mass voter registration exercise, which was scheduled to end on November 2.
Kipkogei, who appeared before the Eldoret Judge, indicated that the poll agency had no funds to extend the countrywide voter registration process.
The lawyer told the court that the enhanced voter registration is an expensive undertaking that has cost the commission Sh120 million in the three days.
“IEBC has spent Sh42 million daily since the orders came into existence amounting to Sh120 million of resources it does not have.
The enhanced voter registration is an undertaking that requires planning and elaborate engagement with stakeholders,” argued Kipkogei.
He further stated parliament had approved Sh1.27 billion which had been spent over the one-month period.
“Any expense beyond the budget amount is an offence that amounts to misappropriation of public funds,” added Kipkogei.
He argued that the polls agency was not given time to be heard when the court issued orders that prohibited it from concluding the massive voter registration exercise.
Ogola said he would make a ruling on a petition filed by Patrick Cherono compelling the court to extend the voter registration exercise on November 25. The case will come up for mention on November 9.
In an update on Wednesday IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said the exercise had used Sh1.282 billion translating to an average of Sh42.7 million per day for the 30 days in form of wages to temporary registration officials, logistics and direct expenses.
