2022 polls: Mass voter registration kicks off

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is set to launch a mass voter registration exercise ahead of next year’s general elections. 

In a statement to newsrooms, IEBC said the exercise will kick off on Monday, October 4 in Nakuru. 

The electorate body aims at netting at least six million voters in the exercise which will be conducted at the County Assembly Ward level. 

“I urge all eligible Kenyans who have not registered as voters to turn up in large numbers and register,” IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati said. 

On October 1, IEBC announced new dates in the 2022 elections calendar.

Speaking on Friday, October 1, IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati warned that the commission will not hesitate to flag down political parties and entities that will not adhere to the set elections regulations and guidelines. 

“The commission warns that as an impartial referee they have all the disciplinary cards and will not hesitate to flash out yellow or red cards as part of the law of the game, to any player that fails to adhere to the regulations in order to deliver free, fair, and credible elections,” IEBC said. 

IEBC further announced that it has altered the date for the gazettement of the General Election date from March 14, 2022, to January 19, 2022.

“The dates to conduct party primaries, resolution of intra-party disputes submission of names of candidates after primaries have also been changed to May 26, 2022,” the electoral body said. 

In changing the dates in the 2022 elections calendar, IEBC said political parties will get a period of 129 days to conduct their party primaries. 

“Initially, Political Parties were to conduct party primaries, resolve intra-party disputes and submit names of candidates from April 16, 2022, to May 19, 2022. 

Chebukati also called for a timely conclusion of any poll-related laws and regulations by December 31, to allow the agency ample time to prepare for the 2022 General Election.