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Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has expressed concern over the low voter registration turnout in the county, calling on residents especially the youth to take the exercise seriously.
Speaking during an Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) stakeholdersโ forum at Kabula Pastoral Centre, Lusaka said the current numbers were disappointing and risked undermining the countyโs influence in national decision-making.
โI am dissatisfied with the low turnout we are witnessing. Those who have not yet registered must come out in large numbers and enlist as voters,โ Lusaka said.
The governor took particular issue with Generation Z, accusing them of being vocal on governance issues online but failing to translate that energy into civic participation.
โMaking noise on social media alone will not give you the leaders you want. You must register as voters and use your vote to bring about the change you have been yearning for,โ he added.
According to IEBC data, only 34,000 people have registered since the start of the exercise in Bungoma County, far below the commissionโs target of 75,000 new voters.
Lusaka urged residents to recognize the power of numbers in shaping political influence, noting that higher voter registration would strengthen the regionโs bargaining power at the national level.
โIt is only through our numbers that we can earn respect and effectively negotiate for our interests,โ he said.
IEBC Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana, who attended the forum, assured stakeholders that the commission was intensifying efforts to boost registration.
โOur officials are even visiting homes to ensure that no one, including persons with disabilities, is left behind in this exercise,โ Mukhwana said.
The ongoing voter registration drive is part of the commissionโs broader efforts to enhance electoral participation ahead of upcoming polls.
