Civil society wants old voter registration system

Civil society wants old voter registration system Written By:KBC Reporters ,    Posted: Thu, Jul 26, 2012

Kiai says the electoral body needs a radical overhaul to restore the waning public confidence it had built since its inception The civil society now wants the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to revert to the old voter registration system in the wake of controversies that have rocked the proposed Biometric Voter Registration system. The UN special Rappoteur on Human rights Maina Kiai says the electoral body needs a radical overhaul to restore the waning public confidence it had built since its inception. He also called for the high integrity threshold set by the magistrates and Judges vetting board to be applied to aspiring leaders vying for elective posts. Elsewhere, Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called for peaceful electioneering in the three constituencies where by elections are scheduled to be held in September saying the by-elections would provide a test run for the general election next year. In this regard, Mr. Odinga asked residents of Kajiado North, Kangema and Nthiwa constituencies to adhere to election rules throughout the electioneering process up to the voting so as to have credible results in the by elections slated for September 17th. Addressing ODM officials from Kajiado North at his office Thursday, the PM said strong party structures were more important in influencing the outcome of elections than financial muscle. Mr. Odinga who is also ODM party leader noted that Kenyans will be watching the by-elections in the three constituencies closely, adding the party will re activate party structures   in the constituencies and put up a formidable team that will ensure ODM captures the three seats. During the function the PNU Kajiado North branch chairman Samuel Nantina defected to ODM and declared his support for the ODM aspirant Eng. Peter ole Mositet. Meanwhile, Mr. Odinga has said the government will erect an electric fence around National Parks as a deterrent against the escalating conflicts between humans and wildlife. He acknowledged that the conflicts had caused loss of lives and destruction to property adding it was imperative that the ministry concerned find a lasting solution to the conflicts. "In the meantime, the government will immediately compensate the affected families and confine the wildlife in the parks where they should prey on other wild animals," he added. Mr. Odinga who spoke outside his office where he addressed demonstrating university students from the Maa community also criticised the heavy handedness of the Kenya wildlife service rangers   saying action will be taken against them if found to have broken the law. He said there was no need to arrest and/or inflict injuries to people who were simply defending themselves against the wild animals. A student leader presented the PM with a petition in which they threatened to escalate the conflict if their grievances were not addressed.