The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has begun a nationwide voter registration drive, with the goal of signing up 6.3 million new voters before the November 27 by-elections and the 2027 General Elections.
The registration exercise started on Monday in all 290 constituencies and comes with a new digital system to make the process faster and more accurate.
Speaking on Citizen TV before the launch, IEBC commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana said the commission is focused on making the process clear and efficient for everyone. “The registration process has been restructured to minimise errors and eliminate duplication,” he said.
Key among the changes is the automatic extraction of details from an applicant’s ID card via scanning, reducing the risk of human error. Voters will also, for the first time, have their iris data captured alongside fingerprints and passport photographs.
“Once you hand over your ID card, it is scanned to verify whether you are already registered. If not, the system auto-fills your details from the ID – including date of birth, serial number, and gender – into the registration kit,” Mukhwana explained.
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The process also includes capturing literacy levels and any special needs a voter might have, followed by the selection of a preferred polling station and ward. On average, the procedure is expected to take no more than ten minutes.
To accommodate the expected surge, the IEBC has increased the number of registration kits per constituency from two to four. One of these kits, described as “Gen-Z friendly,” remains under wraps. “We have another innovation that is coming up… it is so Gen-Z friendly, and God-willing, the chairman will be pronouncing himself on this,” Mukhwana hinted.
Importantly, Kenyans no longer need to register in the constituency where they intend to vote. Voters can now register at any centre, not just where they plan to vote, and choose their preferred polling station.
Starting next week, IEBC officials will also be available at Huduma Centres across the country to make it easier for more people to register.
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