The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat speaking in Hola during a voter sensitization forum./STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Politicians have been urged to refrain from politicising the ongoing Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise amid rising debate over the process.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission vice chairperson Fahima Araphat said the commission’s primary focus is to ensure all eligible Kenyans are registered as voters.

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Speaking in Hola town on Tuesday during a voter sensitisation forum, Araphat warned that political interference could undermine the credibility of the exercise.

“We are kindly telling our leaders that right now, as a commission, all we are engaged in is ensuring that every Kenyan with an ID card gets a voter’s card. That is where all the energy should be directed,” she said.

Her remarks come against the backdrop of growing controversy following the IEBC’s directive requiring some voters, particularly those registered before 2012, to re-register.

The move has sparked mixed reactions across the country, with opposition leaders criticising it and claiming it may not be undertaken in good faith.

Araphat, however, called for restraint and cooperation from political actors. “As a commission, we don’t want politics dragged into this exercise. When the time comes, God willing, and the electioneering period is officially announced, those interested in contesting will do so, and voters will have the opportunity to scrutinise aspirants and make wise decisions at the ballot,” she added.

Leaders from Tana River county also echoed the importance of strengthening voter participation.

Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana called for legal reforms to make it mandatory for all citizens who attain 18 years to acquire national identification cards and register as voters.

He argued that compulsory participation would reduce public complaints about poor leadership and policy decisions, noting that civic engagement begins with voting.

Garsen MP Ali Wario urged the IEBC to prioritise pastoralist regions by deploying sufficient resources to reach nomadic populations who frequently move in search of water and pasture.

He warned that failure to address logistical challenges could lock out many eligible voters in remote areas, effectively denying them their democratic right to participate in elections.

The legislator also raised concerns over internally displaced persons in his constituency who were uprooted by floods and now reside in camps.

He called on the commission to ensure they are registered, stressing that displacement should not disenfranchise citizens.

Leaders collectively encouraged residents to take advantage of the exercise, describing participation in elections as a fundamental democratic right.

The 30-day nationwide voter registration drive is scheduled to run until April 28, 2026.

Residents of Galole constituency during a voter sensitisation meeting./STEPHEN ASTARIKO