With just days left before the voter registration window closes, more than 1.4 million eligible residents in Nyanza have yet to enlist.
This has raised concerns over possible low participation in the 2027 General Election.
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Nyanza Regional Commissioner Flora Mworoa warned that despite holding national identity cards, a significant number of residents have not registered as voters.
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She also pointed out that over 80,000 identity cards remain uncollected across the region, further complicating the situation.
Mworoa urged those who are yet to register to take advantage of the remaining time, stressing that the appeal is not politically driven but aimed at ensuring citizens exercise their democratic right.
“We have a large number of people with IDs who have not registered as voters. We are asking them to come out and do so before the exercise ends,” she said.
She encouraged residents to act before the deadline next Tuesday, noting that continuous registration services will still be available at Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission constituency offices.
Mworoa questioned the reluctance among some residents to enlist, emphasising that voting is a key way for citizens to participate in leadership selection.
The low turnout has partly been linked to growing voter apathy, with some leaders citing reduced political morale in the region following the death of veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga.
In an effort to boost registration, a group of professionals led by Benard Adhiambo has rolled out a targeted mobilisation campaign in collaboration with government offices.
Adhiambo said the region must overcome the perception that it lacks political numbers by ensuring more people are included in the voter register.
“If a community wants to have a strong voice, it must show its numbers. That begins with voter registration,” he said.
He attributed the slow uptake to a mix of complacency and lack of awareness, despite many residents already having identification documents.
The team is using data and digital tools to monitor registration patterns and identify areas with low turnout.
Adhiambo also noted that diminished enthusiasm after Raila’s death has contributed to the slow response.
“It would be unfortunate if many people miss the chance to vote simply because they feel discouraged. Civic responsibility must continue,” he said.
As part of the strategy, the team has established a call centre staffed with young professionals who are reaching out directly to unregistered residents to encourage them to sign up.
Engineer Fredrick Owino said they are relying on data to map eligible voters and focus mobilisation efforts at the grassroots level.
“We know there are over a million people with IDs who are not registered. We are making deliberate efforts to reach them through calls and follow-ups,” he said.
The initiative also involves collaboration with local administrators, including chiefs and assistant chiefs under the Nyumba Kumi structure, to carry out door-to-door campaigns.
By tracking daily registration figures, the team can identify lagging areas and respond quickly, drawing comparisons with regions such as Turkana that have already surpassed their targets.
They have now called on leaders across the region to put aside political differences and support the ongoing registration drive.
“This is a collective responsibility. Leaders should focus on ensuring every eligible person is registered within the remaining time,” Owino said.
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