The Niko Kadi voter registration drive in Kitale was briefly halted on Saturday after armed goons infiltrated the event. The gathering, which drew hundreds of youths, was overrun by those wielding crude weapons before they were driven away. Niko Kadi leaders accused politicians of hiring youths to sow chaos.
The Kitale gathering marked the largest turnout yet for the Niko Kadi initiative, according to leader Allans Ademba. "This is the biggest turnout ever. We've even convinced those who didn't bring their IDs to go back for them. Despite political infiltration, our aim of watu wakue Kadi is a success. Thank you, Kitale," Ademba stated.
Niko Kadi leaders blamed politicians for deploying youths to disrupt their events. "Our initiative was simple: talk to the youth to register as voters. But along the way, some hired goons disrupted us," one leader said. Another added, "This is a planned disruption. It is a challenge because the same youths we are urging to register are being used to disrupt our meetings."
The incident occurs as voter registration gains momentum nationwide, with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) recording over 875,000 new voters in the past two weeks. Nairobi leads with 96,897, followed by Kiambu with 46,265.
IEBC has announced a voter registration exercise in Nairobi Central Business District today, April 12, from 8 AM to 5 PM. "Sunday, April 12 2026! IEBC will conduct Voter Registration within Nairobi CBD. Register as a voter! Carry your National ID or a Valid Passport," IEBC stated. Niko Kadi plans a similar drive in the CBD on Tuesday, April 14.
