IEBC Orders Fresh Registration for Select Registered Voters Countrywide

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has directed that Kenyans who registered as voters before 2012 must register again.

The directive comes as the commission rolls out the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise ahead of the 2027 General Election.

IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said that voters who registered before 2012 need to have their biometric details captured again.

He explained that the current biometric Register of Voters started in 2012 after the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the Elections Act 2012 introduced biometric registration.

“Individuals who had enrolled before 2012 are not part of the current biometric register unless they registered again,” Ethekon said.

“In the 2012 registration drive, we registered about 14.5 million voters. The number rose to 19.6 million in 2017 and 22.1 million in 2022. We aim to increase the register to 28.8 million through this drive,” he added.

Nationwide Registration Drive

The commission launched the 30-day ECVR on March 30. It targets 2.5 million new voters. Registration runs until April 28 across all 1,450 County Assembly Wards, Huduma Centres, constituency offices, and institutions of higher learning.

By April 2, IEBC had registered 344,316 new voters. It also processed 18,610 transfers and updated 329 records.

The commission urged Kenyans to register early. The exercise runs daily, including weekends and public holidays.

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Flexible Registration System

IEBC introduced open registration kits. These kits allow citizens to register from any location and choose their polling station.

Voters wishing to transfer must visit constituency offices in person and submit their biometrics. This ensures proper verification and prevents unlawful transfers.

Areas Excluded

The commission excluded areas with ongoing by-elections or election petitions. These include Emurua Dikirr and Ol Kalou constituencies, as well as Malava and Mbeere North.

IEBC said fresh registration ensures no voter is shocked to find their name missing on election day.

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Call to Young Voters

The commission specifically appealed to Generation Z and first-time voters. Political observers note that Gen Z, with about 14 million eligible voters, could influence the 2027 election. In 2022, only 14.3 million of the 22.1 million registered voters voted.

Ethekon emphasized that registration is a civic duty. He urged Kenyans to mobilize peers, families, and communities.

He added that the voter card, commonly called “KADI,” is more than proof of registration. It represents a citizen’s commitment to democracy and holding leaders accountable.

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