Voter registration started on Monday, September 29, at all constituency offices.
Citizens can register as new voters, update details, transfer stations, or verify information.
Applicants must be 18+, Kenyan citizens, with a valid ID or passport.
IEBC aims to add 6.3 million voters to the current 22.1 million roll.
The exercise has Sh8 billion funding from a Sh57.3 billion election budget.
Opposition leaders urge Gen Z to register in large numbers.
Concerns raised about IEBC’s preparedness and possible voter apathy.
Registration Process
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has launched a fresh voter registration exercise across the country. The process, which began on September 29, will take place in all constituency offices, except in areas where by-elections are ongoing.
Kenyans will be able to register as first-time voters, correct personal details, transfer their polling stations, or confirm their voter information.
Who Can Register
To qualify, applicants must:
Be Kenyan citizens aged 18 and above.
Hold a valid national ID card or passport.
Not have been convicted of an election offence in the last five years.
Not have been declared of unsound mind.
IEBC’s Goal
IEBC Chair Erastus Ethekon said the commission’s target is to register 6.3 million new voters, adding to the 22.1 million already listed.
“Our projection is not based on census data, as before, but on records from the National Registration Bureau. We aim to capture all Kenyans who will have reached voting age by the time of the exercise,” he explained.
Budget and Logistics
The registration is supported by Sh8 billion from the IEBC’s Sh57.3 billion election budget. Other allocations include:
Sh7 billion for replacing old KIEMS kits.
Sh2.5 billion for voter education.
Sh2.4 billion for system maintenance.
Political Push and Concerns
Opposition leaders have encouraged young people, especially Generation Z, to register in large numbers. They argue that the youth vote could play a decisive role in 2027, just as Gen Z led last year’s protest movements.
However, civil society groups have raised doubts about IEBC’s readiness, pointing to past problems such as incomplete registers, faulty technology, and missing names. They also warn that voter apathy—especially among middle-class Kenyans—remains a serious challenge.
Looking Ahead
Despite the concerns, the IEBC says the exercise is a step toward more inclusive and credible elections. For many Kenyans, the drive will test whether the country can overcome the mistakes that have weakened trust in past electoral processes.
Voter registration started on Monday, September 29, at all constituency offices.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has launched a fresh voter registration exercise across the country. The process, which began on September 29, will take place in all constituency offices, except in areas where by-elections are ongoing.
Kenyans will be able to register as first-time voters, correct personal details, transfer their polling stations, or confirm their voter information.
To qualify, applicants must: Be Kenyan citizens aged 18 and above. Hold a valid national ID card or passport. Not have been convicted of an election offence in the last five years. Not having been declared of unsound mind.
IEBC Chair Erastus Ethekon said the commission’s target is to register 6.3 million new voters, adding to the 22.1 million already listed.
“Our projection is not based on census data, as before, but on records from the National Registration Bureau. We aim to capture all Kenyans who will have reached voting age by the time of the exercise,” he explained.
The registration is supported by Sh8 billion from the IEBC’s Sh57.3 billion election budget. Other allocations include: Sh7 billion for replacing old KIEMS kits. Sh2.5 billion for voter education. Sh2.4 billion for system maintenance.
Opposition leaders have encouraged young people, especially Generation Z, to register in large numbers. They argue that the youth vote could play a decisive role in 2027, just as Gen Z led last year’s protest movements.
However, civil society groups have raised doubts about IEBC’s readiness, pointing to past problems such as incomplete registers, faulty technology, and missing names. They also warn that voter apathy, especially among middle-class Kenyans, remains a serious challenge.
Despite the concerns, the IEBC says the exercise is a step toward more inclusive and credible elections. For many Kenyans, the drive will test whether the country can overcome the mistakes that have weakened trust in past electoral processes.
