The US government will offer the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) the necessary technical support when it embarks on cleaning up the voter register.
Speaking in Garissa town after visiting one of the IEBC voter registration centres Tuesday, US ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec said now that the voter registration was coming to an end, the process of cleaning the voter register was crucial in ensuring that the August 8 poll were free, credible and peaceful.
“Through our programmes and partners, we would like to provide technical support to IEBC. The voter register should be as good as it can be. It should be close to perfect,” said Godec.
He underscored the importance of the election process where Kenyans would exercise their constitutional right to vote.
“Through the vote, Kenyans will express their hopes, wishes and dreams for the future of their country. It is an important moment for Kenyans,” he added.
Godec who also toured the Garissa vocational training centre where US is providing support to students to attain skills ready for the market, said he was pleased to see young Kenyans turn up to register as voters.
“I am pleased to see a number of young Kenyans registering as voters and looking forward to seeing a peaceful election,” he said.
The one month mass voter registration that has been characterized by voter apathy ended yesterday but a Nairobi High Court extended the exercise by two more days following a suit filed by political activist Okiya Omtata
Earlier, IEBC stood its ground that it would not extend the exercise despite pressure from some MPs especially from Arid and Semi-Arid areas who wanted the exercise extended because of the current drought that has forced herders to cross borders in search of pasture and water.
