IEBC chief executive James Oswago (left) with chairman Isaack Hassan. Voter education will run for a month. File
What you need to know:
IEBC chief executive officer James Oswago said voters in 1,450 wards will be sensitised on matters ranging from the importance of voting by secret ballot to marking the ballot correctly.
The commission has hired two educators in each ward to sensitise voters on different aspects of the electoral process.
Voters in selected county assembly wards will go through a mock election at the end of this month, the culmination of a voter education effort whose impact might be undermined by the ongoing political campaigns.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chief executive officer James Oswago said voters in 1,450 wards will be sensitised on matters ranging from the importance of voting by secret ballot to marking the ballot correctly.
“The exercise will run throughout the month despite the political campaigns. We are not competing with politicians. We are talking to voters at the ward level on a weekly basis,” Mr Oswago said.
The IEBC has a budget of Sh1.5 billion, most of it financed by donors through the United Nations Development Programme basket fund.
“This is where we draw the assistance for the voter education exercise. The basket is for all Agenda 4 commissions, including ourselves,” Mr Oswago said.
The government allocated the commission only Sh121 million for voter education in the current budget, despite complexities arising from voters having to elect six officials, instead of the previous three.
IEBC has hired two educators in each ward to sensitise voters on different aspects of the electoral process.
The open education forums will conducted from 10am to 12pm. Details of the venues can be obtained from Constituency Elections Coordinators.
According to a public notice that IEBC issued last week on Friday, peaceful campaigns will be the theme for this week, with discussions centering on elections as a contest of ideas, the electoral code of conduct and rules for parties, candidates and citizens.
The educators will discuss electoral choices and voter importation next week and the voters’ role in promoting issue-based politics.
In the third week voters will be taken through the various election offences and penalties, the presidential run-off and what it will take to win each election.
In the last week from February 24, educators will focus on the Election Day, voter turnout, post-election peace and cohesion and a simulation of the voting process.
They will also inform voters on the importance of voting by secret ballot, voting procedures and how to mark the ballot correctly.
