Leaders warn continuous voter listing may miss thousands in Garissa

A section of leaders from Garissa have raised alarm over serious logistical hurdles they say could significantly derail the ongoing Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration.

They warned that unless urgent interventions are made, the 30-day nationwide voter registration drive, set to run until April 28, may fail to reach large segments of the region’s population.

The leaders, led by Balambala parliamentary seat aspirant Ismail Arale, spoke during a press briefing at a Garissa hotel. 

He said many residents are constantly on the move with their livestock and families, noting this mobility makes it difficult for them to access fixed registration centres.

To counter this, Arale called for a shift in strategy, urging the IEBC to deploy mobile registration units capable of reaching nomadic populations wherever they are.

They also emphasised the need for enhanced transport and logistical support for registration staff, noting that vast distances and poor infrastructure further complicate access.

“Although this is a rainy season, we expect that many people are not very far away from the centres. But we want to ask IEBC to make sure we have enough clerks so as to register everyone from wherever they are,” he said.

Another critical issue highlighted is unreliable power supply in remote areas, which frequently disrupts registration equipment.

The leaders proposed the adoption of solar-powered kits to ensure continuity of the exercise in off-grid locations.

Beyond physical access, the leaders pointed to a communication gap that disproportionately affects rural youth.

“While digital campaigns have boosted registration in urban centres, many young people in northern Kenya remain underrepresented due to limited access to information," he said.

"It is for this reason that I want to stress the importance of audio-based and localised voter education campaigns to bridge this divide.” 

Hassan Somane, a youth and aspirant for Saka ward speaks to the press at a Garissa hotel /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Arale expressed deep concern over the slow pace at which identity card applications are being handled, noting the situation risks locking out many residents from participating in the democratic process.

He said more than 2,700 applicants in Balambala alone have yet to receive their identity cards, despite some having applied nearly two years ago.

Arale said many applications remain marked as “pending” on official portals, with no explanation provided.

“In Balambala constituency, for the last two years, there has been a registration of ID cards, up to now, none of those IDs have been processed and given back to the applicants," he said.

"Most of those application forms are still lying in the offices of the registration offices in Balambala and Garissa town, and they are never processed.”

Ismail Arale, Balambala constituency parliamentary aspirant at a Garissa hotel. He is flanked by leaders and youth from the county /STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Mohamed Ibrahim, an aspirant for the Garissa Township MP seat, said acquiring a national ID is the first and most critical step towards voter registration and broader civic participation.

He said his daughter was unable to join university on time due to delays in obtaining an ID.

Ibrahim described this as a clear indication of the far-reaching consequences of the current backlog, which extends beyond voting to affect access to education and other essential services.

He urged the government to expand ID registration services through centres such as Huduma Centres and to ensure timely issuance of the documents.

Ibrahim urged the IEBC to introduce mobile voter registration units to reach remote and nomadic populations more effectively.

Hassan Somane, a youth and aspirant for the Saka ward, underscored the urgency of resolving the ID issuance delays, particularly in Balambala, where many applications from the previous year remain unprocessed.

He warned that failure to act promptly could result in many eligible citizens missing out on the ongoing voter registration exercise.

Somane encouraged all eligible Kenyans to participate actively in the registration process, noting it is a crucial opportunity for citizens to shape the country’s future through democratic means.