Nakuru Town East Member of Parliament David Gikaria has defended the collection of national identity card details from residents receiving cash handouts in Ol Kalou, dismissing claims that the exercise was intended to influence the upcoming parliamentary by-election.
Speaking during an outreach programme in the constituency, Gikaria maintained that recording beneficiaries' ID details was purely an accountability measure to ensure funds reached the intended recipients.
The legislator argued that the collection of identity card information had no connection to the electoral process, noting that Kenya's voting system relies on biometric verification rather than national identity cards.
"Nyinyi vijana labda hamjawai piga kura lakini nani alipiga kura 2022? Kuna kitambulisho ilikuwa inaitishwa? Kama ID haitishwi, unatumia kidole. Hutaitishwa ID na hata hutaitishwa kadi ya kura," Gikaria said.
He explained that voters are identified through fingerprint verification on election day, making it impossible for someone to vote using another person's identity card.
According to Gikaria, the identity card details were being collected to verify that money allocated for different areas had been distributed to the correct beneficiaries.
"Mimi nilipewa Ksh.250,000 jana na pia leo nimepewa Ksh.250,000. Wenye wananiitisha nataka kujua je uliongea na wapiga kura wa Githima na Nyakiangi. That's why they're asking for your IDs," he said.
The MP also revealed that he spent significantly more money than initially budgeted after larger-than-expected crowds attended the programme.
"Jana tulikuwa hapa, tukaskizana, kuna mtu yeyote alifukuzwa? Lakini mimi nilikuwa na Ksh.250,000 ya mikutano ya jana. Watu wakajaa. I had to go home and get another Ksh.800,000. Jana pekee yake hapa kwenu, nilitumia Ksh.1.2 million," Gikaria stated.
He added that residents who had not initially been invited were also accommodated, with subsequent meetings planned to target different groups.
"Nikasema wale ambao wamekuja lakini hawajaalikwa wakae tu. Siku ya leo tutaenda na rika, tukianza na vijana, kesho tutaanza na wamama," he said.
Gikaria's remarks come amid heightened political activity in Ol Kalou ahead of the July 16 parliamentary by-election, following claims by rival political camps that voters are being mobilised through cash handouts.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) cleared nine candidates to contest the seat, including Sammy Kamau Ngotho of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) and Samuel Muchina Nyagah of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
