IEBC in race to list 2.5m voters in 30 days’ drive

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission faces a crucial test ahead of the 2027 polls: registering at least 2.5 million new voters within 30 days.

The mass listing is coming amid worrying signs that young Kenyans, who form the bulk of the population, are not turning up for the exercise.

In an exclusive interview with the Star, IEBC commissioner Ann Nderitu laid bare an ambitious nationwide plan to roll out what the commission calls Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR).

ECVR is a mass mobilisation exercise that will take registration kits out of offices and into villages, churches, mosques and marketplaces. One would only require an original ID or a valid passport to enlist.

The drive, set to begin March 30 with a launch in Kwale county, is designed to aggressively hunt for eligible voters wherever they are.

Remote pastoralist routes in arid lands, as well as urban youth clusters, will be targeted using more than 12,000 personnel and 5,600 biometric kits.

But even as the commission ramps up logistics and spending Sh1.1 billion on the month-long exercise, a troubling trend looms.

In the listing that started last September, only 32 per cent of the 230,000 Kenyans registered are youth, far below the expected 70 per cent.

As time ticks, with the commission eying 6.3 million new voters before 2027, the success of the mass voter registration could hinge on whether the youth can be persuaded to show up.

 Below are the excerpts of the interview:

Give us a general overview of the planned registration.

For nearly two years, there was no registration because there was no commission in place. We thus resumed continuous voter registration on September 30, 2025, immediately after the commission was sworn in. Since then, registration has been ongoing at constituency offices across all 290 constituencies, supported by gazetted registration and deputy registration officers, coordinated by county election managers. We are now rolling out the ECVR, which Kenyans commonly call mass voter registration. This is where we move out of offices and go directly to the people, down to the ward and polling station level. We plan to launch this exercise on March 30 in Kwale, before scaling it across the country with decentralised mobilisation led by county and constituency teams.

You have 5,600 kits and over 12,000 officers. How will this work?

Each kit will be operated by two clerks working together, one handling data capture and the other supporting processes like photography and form filling to make the process efficient. We also have voter registration assistants (VRAs) at the ward level who will supervise operations, coordinate schedules and ensure data flows from the ward to the constituency level for uploading. Additionally, each constituency will have an ICT officer on standby to address any technical issues in real time. We will assign targets to each constituency, each kit, and each clerk. Everyone must contribute to achieving our overall goal.

What are your targets for this exercise?

Our broader target before the next general election is to register at least 6.3 million voters. For this specific ECVR phase, we are targeting a minimum of 2.5 million voters within 30 days. That is the baseline, but we hope to exceed it.

How long will the exercise run?

 About 30 days, starting March 30.

Will every ward or polling station have a kit?

Not necessarily. Distribution is guided by population density, geographic size and infrastructure challenges. For example, if a river cuts off a community, we must allocate a kit to that side to ensure access. We also consider roads, terrain and mobility patterns. Kits will move according to structured schedules. Clerks may be assigned multiple villages and expected to rotate, say, one village per day. We also take advantage of gathering points: churches, mosques, markets, women’s meetings and chiefs’ barazas. With permission, we set up registration points at such events to capture as many eligible voters as possible.

How will you reach remote or mobile populations?

We are particularly focused on ASAL (arid and semi-arid land) areas where pastoralists are constantly on the move. We are mapping their migration patterns and will follow them to ensure they are not left out. This is about reaching the unreached, wherever they are.

You’ve flagged low youth turnout. What’s the concern?

Since September, we have registered about 230,000 people, but only 32 per cent are youth. That is a concern. Based on Kenya’s demographics, we expect youth to account for over 70 per cent of new registrations. The country has a very young population, and many are first-time voters heading into 2027. Youth are continuously transitioning into eligibility - turning 18 and acquiring IDs, so they represent the largest potential pool of voters. If they all register, they will form the majority of the voting population.

Will IEBC tap into youth-led campaigns like #NikoKadi?

Any Kenyan has the right to mobilise others for voter registration. It is a constitutional right. For us, it does not matter who mobilises, as long as eligible voters come forward and register. We encourage all initiatives, including civil society, religious groups and individuals, to help bring people to registration centres.

What is the budget for the exercise?

We will spend about Sh1.1 billion over the 30 days. Around 60 per cent goes to personnel, that is, paying clerks and registration staff, while about 20 per cent is for logistics, including transport and distribution of kits. Roughly 85 per cent of the total budget is therefore tied to personnel and logistics. The remaining 15 per cent supports voter education, stakeholder engagement and technical backstopping.

What is your message to Kenyans?

This is a national effort. We are calling on every Kenyan to mobilise others. If you know a neighbour who is not registered, encourage them. If you are a parent with children who have turned 18 and have IDs, ensure they register. Religious institutions, civil society and the media all have a role to play. We must make this investment count by achieving strong registration numbers.

What are the requirements for registration?

You need either a valid national ID or a valid passport, just one of them. You must appear in person. Your biometric data will be captured, including fingerprints, facial image and iris. You will fill in Form A, after which your details will be processed and uploaded into the system. It takes about 15 days for your name to appear in the voter register. We also have an online ‘Verify’ portal where Kenyans can check their registration status.

Why include iris scanning?

Some people’s fingerprints fail during capture. The iris and facial recognition provide alternative biometric identifiers. Our goal is to minimise reliance on manual registers and move towards fully digital identification, which has an audit trail and verifiability.

How are you addressing concerns about data security?

Kenyans should not be worried. The data we collect is used strictly for its intended purpose. IEBC is a registered data controller and processor under the Office of the Data Commissioner, and we comply fully with data protection laws. Data security is assured.