KENYAN OPPOSITION politicians fear that close to 3 million people may be locked out of the next general election because of the short period of voter registration, which ended on March 2 and was marked by a low turnout.

Accusing fingers are being pointed at the Electoral Commission of Kenya, which many opposition members believe is still manipulated by the ruling party Kanu. The opposition perceive the short period as a deliberate effort to lock out millions of eligible voters. "We will continue to protest until the government sees the sense in ordering a fresh exercise," said Democratic Party secretary-general Mr Joseph Munyao. 

Some opposition MPs claimed that politicians allied to Kanu had ferried voters from one constituency to another to either boost their chances or weaken certain opposition members.

Two Social Democratic Party (SDP) MPs, Mr Patrick Muiruri (Gatundu North) and Mr Moses Mwihia (Gatundu South), have petitioned the commission to nullify the recent registration and order a fresh exercise in the two constituencies.

They said they had evidence of massive irregularities in their constituencies, including transportation of voters. 

"This was a scheme to take away some of my supporters who were enticed with money and registered in a neighbouring constituency," said Mr Muiruri. 

MPs from SDP and DP claim that the exercise was rushed and poorly organised and was manipulated to "rig the election in advance" in favour of the ruling party. 

The Catholic Church's Justice and Peace Commission had earlier claimed that the exercise was undertaken without the prior preparations and publicity needed for a large turnout.

But the Commission's chairman, Mr Samuel Kivuitu, through a spokesperson, declined to comment on complaints arising over the exercise until figures from all the provinces were in. 

He promised to announce the final results of the one-month voter registration exercise this week. 

The Commission had targeted the registration of at least 1 million new voters. 

The Commission intends to register a total of 11 million voters by next year, up from 9,093,444 in 1997.

Mr Muiruri told The EastAfrican last week that he could prove that there were illegal registration centres in his constituency manned by outsiders and that genuine registration equipment was found in the hands of unauthorised people. He claimed that thousands of his supporters were registered in neighbouring Gatundu South for a fee.

"I surrendered all the evidence to the Commission and I am waiting for appropriate intervention or I take legal action," said Mr Muiruri, adding that he hoped that the commission would keep its promise and allow the two MPs to inspect the register from early next month. 

Opposition claims that eligible voters have been disenfranchised are challenged by Kanu supporters who say that the opposition always cries foul over voter registration whenever elections are around the corner. 

The Kanu secretary-general, Mr Joseph Kamotho, last week said the ruling party would not comment on the exercise until the final tabulation was done. He insisted that the reported hitches were not deliberate.

The commission was in the main targeting those who attained the voting age of 18 after March 1997. The exercise was marred by claims of insufficient registration material and personnel. 

The opposition claim that the government, through the Registrar of Persons, plans to disenfranchise young voters by delaying the issuance of identity cards to the youth in opposition strongholds. One must possess an identity card to register as a voter. Mr Kivuitu once accused the Registrar of lethargy and "lacking the commitment to serve Kenyans." 

The Registrar has in turn blamed applicants saying many had failed to collect their identity cards from various district headquarters. It is estimated that about 600,000 ready identity cards have not been collected. 

Mr Muiruri accused the Commission of hurrying the exercise while knowing that thousands of eligible voters were yet to get identity cards. "Both the registration of persons and voters have failed, and this will have considerable impact on the elections."

He dismissed explanations by the Commission that the registration period was reduced because the Ksh100 million initially allocated for the exercise had been slashed by 50 per cent. "The commission cannot be expected to spend what it does not have," said Mr Kamotho, adding that even Kanu was in favour of an extension of the registration drive. 

"It is our belief in Kanu that everyone who has reached the age of 18 should be given a chance to register as a voter," said Mr Kamotho.