The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced an ambitious plan to register over 6.3 million new voters before the 2027 General Election.
If successful, Kenya’s total number of registered voters will rise to more than 28 million, the highest in the country’s history.
According to a statement released on Monday, September 15, the Commission has already started preparing its staff through Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) training.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon emphasized that the exercise is critical to ensuring credible elections and urged officers to handle the process with professionalism
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The nationwide registration drive is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 29, 2025. It will target young people who recently turned 18 as well as citizens who have never registered to vote.
Registered voters who need to update their details, such as a change of residence, will also be allowed to participate.
To make the process accessible, the Commission has mapped registration centers across the country. It is also holding meetings with local leaders, civil society groups, and community-based organizations to boost public awareness.
In addition, IEBC is updating geospatial data to guide proper allocation of resources and ensure fairness in voter distribution.
Another key preparation involves testing and configuring the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits.
These devices will be used to capture personal and biometric details, such as fingerprints and photographs, during registration.
Eligible voters will be able to register at any IEBC constituency office, except in areas with ongoing by-elections.
Services available will include new voter registration, transfer to a new location, correction of personal details, and inspection of voter status.
The Constitution of Kenya sets clear qualifications for voters. A person must be a Kenyan citizen aged 18 or older, possess a valid national ID card or passport, and not be registered elsewhere. Anyone convicted of an election offence in the past five years is not eligible.
During the exercise, individuals will be required to fill specific forms depending on their needs.
New voters will fill Form A, while those updating details or transferring to another constituency will use Forms B and C. Other forms cover objections and appeals.
Once registered, voters will receive an acknowledgement slip, which serves as proof of registration. However, the slip will not be required on election day, as the biometric system will be used to identify voters.
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