Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria has explained why residents receiving handouts in Ol Kalou were asked to present their national identity cards, saying the exercise was meant to account for the number of people reached and ensure they were all voters but had nothing to do with the July 16 parliamentary by-election.
Speaking during an outreach programme in Ol Kalou, Gikaria dismissed claims that the collection of identity card details was intended to influence the vote, insisting that Kenya's electoral system relies on biometric verification and not identity cards alone.
"Some people are saying that I am asking for IDs to steal votes. During voting, is it your ID that is used? No. People vote using their fingerprints," Gikaria said.
"Am I going to cut anyone's finger so that I can vote on their behalf? That is impossible. You must appear in person and use your own fingerprint."
His remarks came after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua alleged that residents in Ol Kalou were being asked to surrender their identity cards while receiving government handouts ahead of the by-election.
In a statement, Gachagua urged residents not to give away their identity cards, alleging that the exercise was a scheme to deny them the opportunity to vote in the upcoming poll.
Responding to the allegations, Gikaria said the identity card details were being recorded solely for accountability purposes after he received money to distribute to residents in specific polling areas.
"The person who gave me the money wants to confirm whether I actually met the voters in Gathima and Nyakiami. That is why I asked for your ID," he said.
Gikaria said the distribution exercise had attracted larger crowds than anticipated, forcing him to source additional money after exhausting the amount he had initially carried.
"Yesterday I came with Sh250,000, but the people were too many. I had to go back home and get more money. Yesterday alone I spent Sh1.2 million and I did not send anyone away," he said.
He said those who had not initially been attended to were also served after additional funds were secured.
According to the MP, the exercise had been reorganised to avoid congestion, with different teams assigned to specific wards while separate days were set aside for various groups of beneficiaries.
"We agreed that today we would start with the youth and tomorrow we will attend to the women so that we do not have a repeat of what happened yesterday," he said.
Gikaria said four Members of Parliament had been assigned different wards, with each receiving resources to distribute within their designated areas.
The exchange comes as political campaigns intensify ahead of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Gachagua's Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) seeking to rally support for their respective candidates.
The by-election was occasioned by the death of former Ol Kalou MP David Kiaraho, prompting a fresh contest that has attracted heightened political activity from both the government and the opposition.
