Photo/FILE IIEC officials register voters for last year's referendum. The IIEC says it expects a high voter turn-out of 70 per cent in the next elections — an equivalent of 13.5 million votes.
By PETER LEFTIE pmutibo@ke.nationmedia.com AND BERNARD NAMUNANE bnamunane@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, July 17 2011 at 22:30
Posted Sunday, July 17 2011 at 22:30
The Electoral Commission aims to register a record 19.4 million voters for next year’s General Election.
At the same time, the winner of the presidential election will have to amass at least seven million votes in the first round to avoid a run-off.
Mr James Oswago, the commission’s secretary, said they had already registered 12.4 million voters and have rolled out a fresh campaign to bring on board another seven million by August next year.
The election date is the subject of a case expected to come up before the Supreme Court.
The IIEC says it expects a high voter turn-out of 70 per cent in the next elections — an equivalent of 13.5 million votes.
This means the winning presidential candidate must garner 6.9 million votes to avoid a run-off.
The candidate must also have won the elections in at least 24 counties. With this in mind, the major 2012 hopefuls appear to have already started quiet campaigns for the top seat.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy PM Uhuru Kenyatta, suspended minister William Ruto and Gichugu MP Martha Karua have lined up meetings and functions across the country.
And they are targeting specific parts of the country, which they hope will add to their basket of votes.
Mr Odinga was in Kericho where he will need to secure votes after falling out with his erstwhile ally, Mr Ruto. He was also in Murang’a where he reminded residents that his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, supported Mzee Jomo Kenyatta while he (Raila) supported President Kibaki.
“Jaramogi and I supported Kenyatta and Kibaki knowing they were Kikuyus. It is, therefore, not true that I dislike the Kikuyu,” he said.
Mr Musyoka was in Mwingi where he declared that although presidential aspirants in the PNU Alliance will hold primaries to pick a flag bearer, he was the best suited for the job.
Mr Kenyatta spoke during the burial of Eliud Mathu Nyamu, father-in-law of Makadara MP Gidion Mbuvi, at Katoo Village in Mwingi South.
On Sunday, Mr Kenyatta, who is expected to launch his presidential bid next month, declared that he will have his name on the ballot papers despite being in the PNU Alliance.
“I know this is a challenging career but I want to assure you (his supporters) that there is no turning back in my presidential ambition”, he said.
Mr Ruto pitched tent in Kisii County urging the community to support him in 2012.
On Sunday, he held series of rallies in Kericho Town, Kapsoit, Muhoroni, Fort Ternan and Londiani areas — the same areas the PM visited on Friday.
“We (UDM) are consolidating the party everywhere. We are targeting pastoralists, the Coast, North Eastern, Kisii region and Western where we have New Ford Kenya as our partners. UDM is a mass party and we want to raise voters that can make us win comfortably,” he said.
Presidential hopefuls on the PNU Alliance ticket, he said, may come together to agree on a candidate. “But you don’t join an alliance when you don’t have votes. This is what we are busy working on,” he said.
Belgut MP Charles Keter said they were reaching out to key leaders in target regions to ensure they have adequate votes.
A key leader they have brought on their side is former National Assembly Speaker Francis ole Kaparo who wants to be UDM chairman.
“We are talking to many people and we are ready to make sacrifices to win the next election,” Mr Keter said.
Ms Karua was in Western seeking support for her presidential bid. And four ODM ministers and three assistant ministers said on Sunday they have a strategy to ensure the elections do not end in a run-off.
Ministers Fred Gumo, James Orengo, Otieno Kajwang’, Dalmas Otieno and assistant ministers Oburu Oginga, Ayiecho Olweny, Katoo ole Metito and chief whip Jakoyo Midiwo said they had a campaign in place.
“It’s now or never for Raila to ascend to the presidency following his unwavering support in all corners of the country... what we need to do is consolidate the votes for him come 2012 elections,” Dr Oginga said.
Mr Orengo said they will ensure that the ODM candidate wins the contest in the first round.
“We have a well spread out team, we have able pointmen and women in every corner of the country. Our strategy is to ensure Raila wins in the first round,” he said.
“Our opponents’ strategy is not based on any serious issue but on fighting an individual, that is a strategy of failures.
“Our strategy is based on making the new constitution work for Kenyans. That is when we can truly say we have a second republic,” Mr Orengo said.
Roads Minister Franklin Bett said Mr Odinga will focus on winning over areas in which he has traditionally performed poorly while retaining his core vote base.
“We will engage the people directly in their homes, villages, sub-locations, up to the national level. We will reach them on foot, by road, by air and by boat,” Mr Bett said.
Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo said the next election will be won at the county level.
“The Constitution is very clear that for you to take over the leadership of the country you have to get the support of 24 counties. This is because the county is the major unit of devolution,” Mr Gumbo said.
Under the Constitution, a presidential candidate is required to win a quarter of the votes cast in at least 24 counties apart from getting more than half of the votes cast countrywide to be declared a winner.
Former Siakago MP Justin Muturi, an ally of Mr Kenyatta said the camp favoured a free and fair nomination exercise to pick the PNU Alliance’s presidential flag bearer.
“It is a sure way of getting a strong presidential candidate and the beauty of it is that you build a very formidable team. But the primaries must be free and fair, devoid of any back room machinations like what ODM did in 2007,” Mr Muturi added.
Mr Oswago said the campaign to register the additional seven million voters would be sustained until the election.
He said the commission was prepared for a presidential run-off if the contenders did not reach the constitutional threshold for winning the race in the first round.
“We are definitely planning for a run-off, it is very possible,” he said.
—Additional reporting by Simon Siele and Eric Oloo
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