Proposed Bill Seeks to Register Students as Voters and Issue IDs in Schools

Proposed Bill Seeks to Register Students as Voters and Issue IDs in Schools.

A proposed Bill before Parliament aims to simplify the process of issuing national identity cards and registering students aged 18 as voters while still in school.

The Registration of Persons (Amendment) Bill, 2024, sponsored by Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, seeks to amend Section 107 of the Registration of Persons Act, allowing students in learning institutions to be registered.

The Bill mandates the principal registrar to conduct an annual registration programme by the end of August to capture eligible secondary school students. Additionally, the registrar will collect required details between the programme’s closure and December’s end to facilitate the registration process.

ID Issuance and Delivery

Students will not incur any costs for obtaining their identity cards. The documents will be delivered to their respective schools or designated locations for those who have completed their studies.

This initiative intends to streamline the process and alleviate the challenges students face in obtaining IDs after leaving school.

The Bill has been forwarded to the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) for analysis. This review includes benchmarking against global practices and estimating the costs to taxpayers.

Following the analysis, the findings will be presented to the National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee, where the Bill’s sponsor will defend it before its formal publication and first reading. Public participation will follow before MPs debate it in the second reading.

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If enacted, the Bill could significantly benefit students who struggle to acquire IDs post-schooling. The move is expected to add around one million young voters to the electoral roll annually, reshaping the political landscape as political players vie for their support during elections.

This year, approximately 965,000 students sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), marking a significant number of potential new voters.

The initiative would also simplify processes such as registration with the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), both of which require IDs.

Addressing Youth Voter Apathy

Youth voter apathy has been a longstanding challenge for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Many young people have refrained from registering, citing disillusionment with political leaders who fail to fulfil campaign promises. Even among those who register, turnout on polling days remains low.

Statistics reflect this declining trend. For instance, the IEBC added only 2.5 million new voters ahead of the 2022 elections, far below its target of six million. This decline occurred despite 75% of the population being under 35, according to the 2019 census.

The IEBC has faced severe financial constraints, which may hinder voter registration efforts. In July, the agency informed MPs of a Sh87.5 million budget cut following the rejection of the Finance Bill, 2024.

This shortfall could disrupt the maintenance of critical election equipment, such as the Kenya Integrated Election Management Kits (KIEMs Kit).

Political and Social Ramifications

The failure of young people to register and vote highlights broader voter apathy among Kenyans. Youth frustration culminated in significant anti-government protests in June this year, led by Generation Z.

These protests resulted in the dissolution of the entire cabinet and the rejection of the Finance Bill, 2024, by President William Ruto.

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If implemented, the Bill promises to address key voter registration challenges and empower students to participate in democratic processes, potentially altering the nation’s political dynamics in the coming years.

Proposed Bill Seeks to Register Students as Voters and Issue IDs in Schools.

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