Moses Kuria Explains Why Mt Kenya Residents Are Not Registering as Voters

Former Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria has claimed that the Mt Kenya region is lagging behind other parts of the country in the ongoing voter registration exercise by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), attributing the slowdown to a lack of political motivation ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s JKLive aired on Wednesday night, April 22, 2026, Kuria said registration numbers from the region were about 20% below national expectations.

The outspoken politician argued that, unlike previous election cycles, residents in the region feel they lack a unifying political leader contesting for the presidency.

“The numbers are not looking good. From a voter registration perspective, I have the figures because IEBC is using them every week and I’ve been tracking them closely. Mt Kenya region -I’m talking about nine to ten counties, is underperforming compared to the rest of the country by about 20 % based on expectations,” said Kuria.

National Registration Targets Yet to Be Met

Kuria revealed that the national voter registration target currently stands at 2.37 million voters, but only 1.3 million had been registered by last weekend.

He attributed the slowdown in the Mt Kenya region to a lack of political motivation among voters.

“The bigger question is this: why is Mt Kenya underperforming in voter registration? The answer is simple -they do not feel they have a horse in the race; Politics is driven by motivation,” Kuria stated.

Also Read: MP Jack Wamboka Suspended as PIC Chair Over Bribery Allegations

Comparison With 2017 Election Mobilisation

The former CS, who previously served in the administration of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, said the situation was different during the 2017 elections when the region strongly identified with the presidential contest.

“In 2017, I was in charge of voter registration in the Mt Kenya region for former President Uhuru Kenyatta, working alongside former Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho,” he said.

Kuria recalled that mobilisation efforts during that period were intense and widely supported.

“I remember the effort we put in, including support from volunteers and groups such as the Mt Kenya Foundation. People were motivated because they believed they had something at stake.”

‘Cousin Territories’ Also Missing Targets

According to Kuria, data from the third week of voter registration showed that counties he described as the region’s broader political allies, including Nairobi, Eastern, and Kisii, were also lagging.

“In fact, if you look at what they call their ‘cousin’ territories- which largely comprise Mt Kenya, Nairobi, Eastern and Kisii- the 14 counties had an average voter registration target achievement of 66 per cent as of week three,” he said.

Also Read: Govt Announces Fresh Recruitment for Top PSC Slot – How to Apply

Nakuru, Western Counties Tipped as Key Battlegrounds

Kuria further predicted that several counties would emerge as major battlegrounds in the next election cycle, singling out Nakuru as particularly competitive due to its diverse voter population.

“Nakuru is one of the battleground counties, and many people may not understand why it stands out. Nakuru is extremely cosmopolitan, +about 40% of the county’s voters being non-Mt Kenya voters. That alone makes it a real battleground,” he said.

He also named Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, and Trans Nzoia among the counties likely to play a significant role in shaping the country’s political landscape due to their growing voter populations.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news updates