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A team of professionals from the Nyanza region has launched a data-driven campaign to boost voter registration, targeting more than two million new voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Led by engineers and data analysts, the group says it has identified a major gap: more than 1.27 million people with national identity cards are not registered as voters across Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori counties.

Speaking during a briefing, team member Bernad Adhiambo said the findings have triggered urgent action to mobilise communities.

“We realised that numbers are everything in decision-making. At the same time, it is a civic right for citizens to decide who governs them. That is why we are encouraging everyone with an ID to register as a voter,” Benard said.

He explained that the group has gone further to identify an additional 800,000 eligible citizens who do not yet have IDs, bringing the total pool of potential new voters in the region to about 2.2 million.

Unlike previous efforts, the initiative relies heavily on data analytics and targeted outreach.

Benard said the team has developed tools to track voter registration, analyse baseline data, and coordinate mobilisation efforts down to the village level.

“We now have data at the village level, including names. This allows us to use a more targeted approach rather than general campaigns,” he said.

The group has partnered with grassroots administrators to conduct door-to-door campaigns, leveraging their knowledge of local households to reach unregistered individuals.

In addition, a call centre has been set up to directly engage those identified through the data.

“The response has been encouraging. About 39 per cent of the people we have contacted have shown willingness to register, and some have already confirmed they have done so,” Benard noted.

However, the campaign has also uncovered a concerning trend.

According to Benard, about 18.7 per cent of respondents cited a lack of motivation to register, with some claiming there is no need because “Raila is no more.”

“This is worrying, especially when you are dealing with such large numbers. We are urging leaders and community members to educate people that leadership may change, but numbers remain critical in determining influence,” he said.

The professionals have also pushed back against the narrative that the Nyanza region suffers from low voter turnout.

Benard said data from the last General Election shows the opposite.

“Our average turnout was 71 per cent, which was above the national average. Counties in this region ranked among the top ten nationally,” he said.

He emphasised that the real issue is not voter apathy but the large number of unregistered voters, which limits the region’s overall influence.

“If we reach our target of 4.7 million registered voters and maintain a 71 per cent turnout, the region could deliver about three million votes,” he added.

Another member of the team, Engineer Fredrick Owino, said the initiative is community-driven and not aligned to any political agenda.

“This is not about supporting any candidate. It is about ensuring every Kenyan has the power to choose their leader,” Owino said.

He noted that the campaign is rooted in a sense of responsibility among professionals to give back to society.

“We have communities that feel left out and unheard. This is about bringing them to the table so their voices can count,” he said.

Owino stressed that voter registration is the foundation of democratic participation, regardless of political preferences.

“Even if someone believes in a one-term leader, they must first have the power to make that choice. Right now, we are focused on giving people that power,” he said.

The group’s chairman, James Oluoch, said the initiative was born out of a deliberate decision to act after observing recurring challenges across the region.

“We visited all corners of the region and found the same issues. We had a choice to ignore them or do something. We chose to act,” Oluoch said.

He described the campaign as a collective effort to ensure that all segments of society are represented.

“Women in villages who feel unheard, the youth struggling with unemployment, and informal sector workers like boda boda riders all need a voice. That voice begins with voter registration,” he said.

Oluoch added that the initiative is not a one-off activity but part of a broader effort to encourage civic engagement and informed participation in governance.

With the 2027 elections in sight, the team believes that increasing voter registration could significantly reshape political dynamics in the region.

They are now urging stakeholders, including political leaders, civil society and community influencers, to support the campaign and help achieve its ambitious target.

“Our goal is simple: ensure every eligible person is registered and ready to vote. That is how communities gain influence and secure their future,” Benard said.