By DAVID MUGONYI 

A section of opposition MPs wants identity cards to be issued before the start of voter registration.

The group, calling itself "the Progressive People's Forum", asked the Electoral Commission to suspend next month's voter registration.

The team, which includes some members of the civil society, claimed there was a deliberate move to deny about 3,000,000 eligible voters the IDs.

MPs Shem Ochuodho (Rangwe, National Development Party) and Muthusi Kitonga (Mtito, Social Democratic Party), who addressed a press conference on behalf of their colleagues, said genuine change could only come when the youth are issued with ID cards.

The statement, read at Chester House in Nairobi, bore signatures of Kanu MPs Kipruto Kirwa (Cherangany) and Kipkalya Kones (Bomet) and Jackson Mwalulu (Taveta, Democratic Party). Political activists Kabando wa Kabando and Kepta Ombati also signed the statement.

The group asked those with IDs to ensure that they register as voters.

The call comes a day after the Official Leader of the Opposition, Mr Mwai Kibaki, said millions of potential voters would be disenfranchised if the one-month registration period is not extended.

Mr Kibaki had described the period as inadequate, adding that many young Kenyans were yet to be issued with identification cards to enable them to register as voters.

Three million youths were qualified to get the identity cards but were being frustrated by the government, he said. 

Like Mr Kibaki, Dr Ochuodho said that the voter registration process should be an on-going exercise.

He said mobile registration centres should be established in rural areas where most youths are disenfranchised.

The Rangwe MP claimed that there were "a lot of behind the scenes negotiations" and many initiatives were spearheading these. He said the focus of the Opposition parties' alliance was not on a single presidential candidate but team work.