- IEBC is targeting about 28.5 million registered voters for the August 2027 General Election.
- Nearly 3 million Kenyans had registered under the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise by August 20, 2026.
- The commission plans to subject the voter register to an independent forensic audit before certification.
- Diaspora voter registration is expected to expand from 12 countries to 26.
- IEBC is urging Kenyans to register, transfer polling stations where necessary and verify their voter details.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is preparing for a significantly larger voter register ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election, with a target of approximately 28.5 million registered voters.
The commission had 22.1 million registered voters during the 2022 election. Reaching the new target would therefore add more than six million voters to the register compared with the previous General Election. IEBC says the ongoing registration drive will be central to achieving that figure.
The 2027 General Election is scheduled for August 10, 2027, giving the commission less than a year to complete the various preparations. IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon has stressed that having a reliable register is one of the most important steps towards a credible election.
IEBC’s latest figures show that 2,936,516 Kenyans had registered as voters by August 20, 2026. The registrations have been recorded since the Continuous Voter Registration exercise began on September 29, 2025.
The commission is encouraging eligible Kenyans who have not registered to take advantage of the ongoing exercise. Those who have moved to new areas are also being asked to transfer their voting stations and update their details before the electoral register is finalised.
Ethekon said the commission’s priority is to build a register that can be independently verified and trusted by voters and other stakeholders. The exercise is therefore not only about increasing numbers, but also ensuring that information held by IEBC is accurate.
IEBC plans to subject the register to a forensic audit before it is certified for use in the 2027 election. An independent professional firm will be involved in the process as the commission seeks to identify possible irregularities.
Biometric technology will also remain an important part of the registration and verification process. IEBC says the technology will help confirm voter identities and strengthen the integrity of the register.
The verification process is expected to help identify records belonging to deceased persons, duplicate registrations and other inconsistencies. Registered voters will also have an opportunity to check their biometric information and raise concerns where their details are incorrect.
Kenyans living outside the country are also set to benefit from an expanded voter registration programme ahead of the 2027 polls.
IEBC plans to increase the number of countries covered by diaspora voter registration from 12 to 26. The move would more than double the geographical reach of the programme and give eligible Kenyans in additional countries an opportunity to participate in the election.
The commission said the expansion is part of efforts to progressively widen the participation of Kenyans living abroad in the country’s electoral process. The new countries and specific registration arrangements are expected to be communicated by IEBC as the exercise progresses.
As preparations intensify, IEBC is asking Kenyans not to wait until the final stages of the electoral process before checking their registration status. Voters who have changed their residence should also ensure that their polling station information reflects their current location.
The commission has further warned citizens to be careful about false information surrounding voter registration and election preparations. Kenyans have been encouraged to obtain information about registration, transfers and verification directly from official IEBC communication channels.
The commission says citizens have a responsibility to ensure their information is correct and to participate peacefully in the democratic process. With the voter register expected to undergo further verification and auditing, IEBC will now focus on both increasing registration numbers and improving the accuracy of the records.
The planned 28.5 million voter target would represent a major increase from the 2022 register if achieved. The coming months will therefore be crucial as IEBC works to register millions of additional voters, clean up existing records and prepare the expanded diaspora voting programme ahead of the August 2027 election.
