Kisumu residents embrace voter registration drive as alternative to protests

As Kenyans took to the streets to mark the memorial for victims of human rights violations, residents of Kisumu turned up for a mass voter registration drive, terming it an alternative form of expression.

Close to 8,000 identification cards were availed for collection at the Kondele roundabout, with residents describing the exercise as a turning point in their engagement with the government.

This as business activities continued as usual across the Nyanza region, where residents also marked the memorial.

By 9am on Thursday, hundreds of residents of Kisumu had gathered at the Kondele roundabout, where chiefs from across Kisumu Central Constituency supervised the issuance of identification cards.

In a separate tent, IEBC officers facilitated voter registration, with residents saying they had opted for a different approach to expressing their views.

"Tumechoma, tumeharibu vitu za watu, but leo naona amani tuko nayo. Nimefurahi sana kuja na Gen Z wenzangu kuchukua ID tupige kura 2027,” said a resident Brenda Onyango.

"This is an alternative form of expression. We have been trying the same thing the same way and getting the same results, but this time we are trying a different approach where, if we give power back to the people, what do we get?"Another resident, Deborah Ojuka, stated.

Across Homa Bay, Migori and Siaya counties, activities proceeded as usual, with residents saying that while they kept off the streets, they remained in solidarity with victims of human rights violations.

"Ni heri watu waende kanisani ama wakae kwa nyumba zao, waomboleze watu wao kwa amani kuliko wajitokeze kwenda kwa barabarani,” stated Robert Juma.

Nelson Mandela from Migori added: "Those of us who are not on the road do not condemn those who are marching because what they are doing is simply a commemoration. We tell them that we are together with them."

A section of human rights activists in Kisumu, however, complained of intimidation, saying it prevented them from holding a planned memorial procession.

"The area where we were to hold a memorial vigil has a football match, with people pretending they are football fans coming to watch the match, but they are keeping us from holding our vigil there,” noted Boniface Akach.