Man Shocked to Find His Details in IEBC Register Despite Never Registering or Voting

A voter registration exercise in Mombasa has raised concerns after Morris Kioko discovered that his details already exist in the register maintained by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), despite never applying for registration.

Kioko, who had presented himself to register as a first-time voter, was informed that records show he is already listed and is further indicated to have participated in the 2013 Kenyan general election.

“I have never registered to vote in my life. So how could my name be on the list and even show that I voted back in 2013?” he asked.

He expressed disbelief at the records, pointing out that he was underage at the time.

“In 2013, I was only 14 years old. I do not understand how this is possible,” Kioko added. “I came here to register for the first time, only to be told I am already in the system. That is something I cannot understand,” he said.

Impact on Voter Turnout and Future Election

Jane Achieng, whose frustration mirrored that of many onlookers at the Mombasa center, warned that such discrepancies could undermine the credibility of the entire electoral process.

“If a 14-year-old’s identity can be used to cast a ballot in a past election without his knowledge, what does that say about the integrity of our current data?” she posed to a growing crowd.

Achieng further called upon the IEBC to conduct a thorough audit of the regional registry, arguing that Kioko’s case might represent a “frightening tip of the iceberg” regarding identity theft and phantom voters.

Her sentiments were echoed by other prospective voters in the queue, who began demanding immediate verification of their own statuses before proceeding with the day’s registration exercise.

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IEBC’s Delayed Response Raises Concerns of Accountability

Kioko’s case has generated considerable discussion online, with many Kenyans expressing unease about the potential for voter manipulation.

The incident occurred during ongoing voter registration activities across the country, where eligible citizens are turning up to enlist.

IEBC officials at the center did not immediately provide clarification on how the discrepancy may have occurred.

By the time of publication, the electoral body had not issued an official statement addressing Kioko’s case or the records in question.

The IEBC has yet to issue an official statement addressing Kioko’s specific case or the broader implications of such errors.

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IEBC Headquarters in Malindi. PHOTO/ IEBC.