IEBC launches mass voter registration targeting 6.3 million ahead of 2027 polls

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has rolled out a nationwide mass voter registration drive, targeting 6.3 million new voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The campaign, which began on Monday, September 29, 2025, seeks to capture mostly first-time voters, especially young people, whom analysts say could decide the next election. The first launch was held in Kajiado, with similar activities set to run across all 290 constituencies.

Eligible citizens can register at Huduma Centers and designated stations, open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Services include new voter registration, transfers, updates, and verification.

IEBC chairperson Ethekon said the projection of 6.3 million new voters was based on National Registration Bureau records, not census data as in previous years. He added that Sh8 billion of the Commission’s Sh57.3 billion budget for 2027 has been set aside for the exercise, with Sh2.5 billion allocated to stakeholder engagement. Replacement of ageing KIEMS kits will cost Sh7 billion, while system maintenance has been given Sh2.4 billion.

Political leaders have seized on the campaign to rally the youth to participate. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua urged young people to move beyond social media activism and translate their influence into action at the ballot.

“What you are doing on smartphones is good, but the real transformation will happen at the ballot box. The vote is your tool of change. You must register and use it to help restore this country,” he said.

Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa echoed similar sentiments, with Wamalwa telling youth that slogans such as “one term” would only carry weight if backed by registration and turnout.

Analysts agree that the youth could be the game-changer in 2027. “For the first time in decades, an election may be decided not by tribal numbers but by a generational uprising at the ballot. If Gen Z turns out in large numbers, they could shape Kenya’s political landscape entirely,” said Prof Tom Nyamache of Turkana University.

The Commission has, however, come under pressure from the Opposition, which has demanded proof of compliance in procurement processes, including contracts with Smartmatic and other technology providers. Ethekon assured the public that concerns on data protection and procurement had been addressed, with policies now in place to safeguard operations.

In its post-election review after the 2022 polls, IEBC noted that while youth made up 40 per cent of registered voters, turnout remained low. Out of 22.1 million registered voters, only 14.3 million cast their ballots, a factor analysts say was key in President William Ruto’s narrow victory over Raila Odinga.

To qualify, voters must be Kenyan citizens aged 18 and above, hold a valid national ID or passport, and not be previously registered. Those convicted of election offences in the last five years or declared of unsound mind remain ineligible. Diaspora voters must register using passports, except East Africa–based Kenyans who may use national IDs.

“A credible register is central to free and fair elections, and every citizen’s participation strengthens democracy,” Ethekon said, emphasizing that the future of Kenya lies in the hands of its young people.