Registration Begins Abroad

15 November 2010 – (Nairobi) – The registration exercise also began on Monday in centers outside the country.

In Kenya the turnout was fairly good.

Our reporter Queen Makalele reports from one of the registration centers in Nairobi.

[Queen Makalele]: “I am at station one in Nairobi and people are voting. I talked to the head of the registration center and he said more than 200 people have already registered. The registration process is a simple one. You are asked to mention your full names, where you live in Nairobi then after wards one of your fingers is dipped in ink to give a thumb print. From there you are given a registration card which you are to use during the voting exercise during the referendum. Without the card you cannot vote.”

The Sudanese ambassador to Kenya, Majok Guandong was among the first people to register.

He says that the people of Sudan should come out and register because it’s their right to decide the future of the country.

[Majok Guandong]: “I registered in the morning and the process is orderly and decent at least. This is the beginning of the end of the process of the CPA that was signed in Nairobi 2005. The people of southern Sudan are beginning to exercise their right to self determination. I expect the people of southern Sudan to come and register, because they are the people who are going to make the decision at the end of the day, to vote for either option. Either keeping the unity of the country as it is according to the CPA or opting out for secession.”

Kaku Augustine, one of the people who came to vote is urging everybody in Nairobi to come out and go register as well.

[Kaku Augustine]: “I have registered and done all the processes necessary. I have seen that the process is an easy and good one too. People are coming in few numbers now but still they keep coming. So I would like to urge all the young people especially to come and register. And I am the only one from my place who is elderly and that’s why I said I will go meet with the rest and tell them that I have already registered and they should also go and register.”

Kogi Abial was also among those who registered.

[Kogi Abial]: “My name is Kogi Abial am here to register for the coming referendum. Am 21 years old and am also qualified. Yes I have my passport with me and this is my voice and come the 9th of January am going to definitely vote because this is my voice and my right.”

The registration exercise we began on the 15th of November will end on the 1st of December.