WHAT NEXT AFTER VOTERS REGISTRATION AMONG YOUTHS?

By: Brian Simiyu Nabungolo

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission wrapped up a two phase voters registration exercise in the country early this month. Despite of not reaching the target amount of citizens, majority of the targeted group were the youthful population.

Different efforts marshalled by IEBC, politicians and youthful organisations took the matter on their hands drumming up youths to take their chances of going to register as voters in order to fulfill their democratic right comes 9th of August 2022, during general election.

Youthful organisations like Uchaguzi club and Universities and Colleges Students Peace Association in Kenya (UCSPAK) jointly were keen in rallying universities and colleges students to make their numbers count by taking voters card.

However, after finishing voters’ registration exercise political groups, analysis and politicians have already counted the eggs before they hatch. Statistics shown by IEBC already showing how they have tyranny numbers but yet they haven’t shown the first timers the importance of voting for them!

Many of these youthful populations have the voters’ card but they haven’t made up the decision of taking part in the D- day of voting exercise. They have no hopes in taking part since they have no concrete reasons why they should vote despite of continuous suffering after elections.

Some have made up their minds on voting for specific seats like that of MCA and member of the parliament seat only! Why because they only feel that MCA once constructed road in his/her village or that MP awarded him/her some bursary funds to aid in fees payment hence feeling the other four seats as useless and a waste of time voting for because of no tangible work done that he or she can feel at grassroots level.

Others feel to vote for other seats in the county and leave the presidential piece null. Such youths say that whether a presidential candidate A or B wins, nothing will change in their lives since the state of the economy will be still bad and the rate of unemployment won’t be solved hence feeling nothing to appreciate in electing presidential candidate. Such youths exist around and already they have made up their minds.

The race of convincing these youths is yet to be won. Largely the carry the majority of the population hence their participation in coming general election is crucial. Hence politicians and youthful organisations should not loosen the continuous interaction between youths and them through reminding them the importance of voting all six seats placed by IEBC.

Through voting, all those seats will contribute in the development or underdevelopment of the nation hence before Politician starts to count chicks before they hatch, they should convince their supporters why they should wake up early and go to vote!