- IEBC sets new voter registration target of 6.3M ahead of 2027 polls.
- Continuous voter registration to begin on September 29, 2025.
- Focus on youth, women, marginalised groups, and diaspora voters.
- MPs raise concerns over passports-only rule for Kenyans abroad.
- CIOC urges Gen Z to register and shape the nation’s future.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced plans to register 6.3 million new voters before the 2027 General Election. This will add to the 22.1 million voters already on the register.
The nationwide exercise will officially kick off on Monday, September 29, 2025, with constituency offices, Huduma Centres, and ward-based drives serving as key registration points.
IEBC will also extend its outreach to universities, colleges, and Kenyans in the diaspora, ensuring more inclusion.
The National Assembly’s Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) has appealed to Kenyans, especially young people, to take part.
“This is a defining moment for the youth of Kenya. If you want change, you must be part of the process. Register and be counted,”
Geoffrey Omondi, CIOC Chairperson
Appearing before the Committee, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said the Commission is fully prepared to conduct the exercise in line with the Constitution, which requires continuous voter registration.
He noted that IEBC has already reviewed and mapped registration centres, tested KIEMS kits, procured materials, and trained staff to standardise the process nationwide.
The Commission will also roll out targeted voter education campaigns focusing on youth, women, marginalised groups, and diaspora communities.
IEBC clarified that only passports will be accepted for voter registration abroad, except for Kenyans based in East Africa who can use national ID cards.
This decision sparked concerns from MPs, who warned that it could lock out many Kenyans abroad.
“They are still Kenyans and must not be disenfranchised. We must find a way to include them in the democratic process.”
—Geoffrey Omondi, CIOC Chairperson.
Despite the concerns, lawmakers praised the IEBC’s leadership for presenting what they described as a comprehensive roadmap to the 2027 General Election.
