IEBC admits ID card buying going on

By Geoffrey Mosoku

NAIROBI; KENYA: The Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) has launched investigations into reported incidents of Identity Card (ID) buying.

The IEBC says it has information that some people were buying IDs from voters in various parts of the country which it has termed as illegal.

“The Commission is aware of reports that some people are buying IDs from registered voters. Our internal investigations unit is working with police to unearth this syndicate,” IEBC Chief Electoral Officer James Oswago said.

Oswago said buying IDs is not only criminal but unconstitutional as it denies those voters the right to cast their ballot. “It disenfranchises voters by denying them the right to vote as enshrined in the constitution.”

The electoral body CEO said the commission will be issuing a detailed statement on the claims which threaten to undermine a free and fair election.

Already, the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) alliance has complained that their rivals were deeply engaged in buying IDs from their supporters in their strongholds across the country.

CORD presidential campaign Chairman Franklin Bett said ID card buying is has been reported in Kitui, Kakamega, Kisii, Nyamira, Mombasa and parts of Nairobi counties.  

While demanding for action by the authorities, Bett cautioned voters not to sell their IDs saying doing so was tantamount to mortgaging your future.

“The 500 shillings or so that you get by selling your ID card is less valuable that what you will get by participating in the polls through casting your vote,” he said.

Bett who was accompanied by ODM secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o, was speaking yesterday at the CORD centre in Nairobi when they launched a campaign dubbed ‘Stand up for Kenya, Get out and vote’.

According to the lobby officials Zuleka Hassan and Arnold Karanja, the team aims to move across the country and especially in their strongholds and swing vote areas.

The team of youthful representatives from ODM, Wiper and Ford Kenya will be holding a door to door campaign as they mobilize their supporters to turn up in large numbers.

“We are telling Kenyans that it’s not enough to a registered voter but one ought to come out and vote. In this way, our candidate will be able to garner majority of votes,” Zuleka said.

Nyong’o lauded the campaign saying it will encourage many Kenyans to turn out adding that citizens should strive to exercise their democratic right through the ballot.

Among the other areas targeted by the group is the vote rich Rift Valley, where Cord is targeting at least 40 percent of the entire vote.