IEBC in Sh10bn plan to enlist 6.3m voters

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has unveiled a Sh9.6 billion strategy to register at least 6.3 million new voters ahead of the 2027 general election.

The commission will rely on constituency offices, Huduma Centres, ward-based drives, institutions of higher learning and diaspora registration to meet the ambitious target.

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“The commission projects a register of 28.5 million voters in 2027,” IEBC announced on Monday during the launch of continuous voter registration.

According to the plan, the commission intends to conduct the exercise in three phases.

The first phase targets 10 per cent of the 6.3 million new voters. Registration under the new phase began on Monday.

In November, the commission will roll out enhanced voter registration, targeting 40 per cent of the total, with the remaining 50 per cent to be listed in the next financial year.

“Voter registration is the foundation of democracy. When our people register, they claim their rightful place in shaping the future of Kenya,” commissioner Ann Nderitu, who chairs the Electoral Operations Committee at IEBC, said.

Nderitu said a credible register of voters is the backbone of electoral preparedness and the guarantee of credible elections, and without it, democracy cannot stand.

“With gazetted registration officers, the mapping and realignment of registration centres and the deployment of new voter registration technology, IEBC has demonstrated its commitment to credible elections,” Nderitu said.

The electoral agency plans to spend Sh8 billion for the continuous voter register and Sh1.6 billion to list Kenyans in the diaspora.

The commission urged all eligible Kenyans to register at any IEBC constituency office, except in areas currently undergoing by-elections.

“The commission encourages all unregistered citizens to take advantage of the ongoing exercise and register early,” the IEBC said.

The services available during the continuous voter registration exercise include new voter registration, correction or update of voter details, transfer of registration to a new polling station or constituency and verification of voter information.

According to the commission, continuous voter registration is taking place in its offices across the 290 constituencies.

“Constituency offices serve as a service point for registration of citizens as voters, as well as updating of particulars,” the commission said.

IEBC said additional registration kits will be taken to the constituency offices to facilitate registration across the country.

In a bid to reach out to as many Kenyans as possible, the commission is also leveraging 57 Huduma centres across the country.

“The commission will be establishing a desk at all Huduma Centres to offer registration services and expand registration coverage and improve operational efficiency,” IEBC said.

The Huduma Centre registration will also enable eligible citizens to choose their preferred voting point.

Further, the commission plans to conduct an enhanced ward-based continuous voter registration exercise.

“This strategy is essential for deepening inclusivity and achieving geographic and demographic representativeness,” it said.

The IEBC is also targeting learners, especially in institutions of higher learning, where it believes many Gen Zs are yet to register as voters.

“The commission will be conducting targeted registration in the institutions of higher learning to offer an opportunity to eligible youth to register as voters,” the commission said.

IEBC said it will be facilitating the process through the provision of open kits to allow students in those institutions to choose their preferred voting area.

For Kenyans in diaspora, the commission is planning to expand voter registration centres for those residing outside the country to guarantee their voting rights.

In the last election, some 10,443 Kenyans living abroad were listed as voters across 12 countries. The commission intends to grow this number.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

The registration drive is expected to shape the country’s political future. Analysts note that its success will test IEBC’s capacity and determine which political blocs harness the power of Gen Z—a group widely seen as pivotal in what could be one of Kenya’s most hotly contested elections.