The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has raised concern over the low turnout in the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise across the country.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said despite the exercise being launched on September 29, 2025, the commission has so far registered only 90,020 new voters countrywide — far below expectations.
“We have made some progress, but the numbers remain very low,” said Ethekon. “We are hoping to surpass 100,000 new voters by the end of this week, but we still need greater public participation, especially among the youth.”
He said the commission targets 6.8 million new voters before the 2027 General Election, adding that some counties, including Mombasa, have recorded alarmingly low figures.
In the past month, Mombasa has registered only 3,967 new voters against a target of 183,000.
Ethekon noted that the commission is targeting significant growth in voter numbers across the six constituencies in Mombasa before 2027, with Nyali expected to rise from 124,235 to 160,000, and Kisauni from 135,276 to 173,851.
He cited challenges such as long distances to IEBC offices, which are often limited to one per constituency, and lack of national ID cards among many youths, especially along the Coast, as key barriers.
“We will work closely with relevant government agencies to ensure no one is denied the right to register due to delays in ID issuance,” he said.
IEBC Chief Executive Officer and Secretary Marjan Hussein Marjan emphasized that voter registration is both a civic and moral duty.
“The youth have the power to make meaningful changes in this country through the ballot,” said Marjan. “It is their responsibility to register in large numbers and elect accountable leaders instead of resorting to protests.”
He urged young Kenyans to register ahead of both the November 27 by-election and the 2027 General Election, saying their participation is key to shaping better governance and service delivery.
Ethekon further announced that the IEBC plans to launch an enhanced mass voter registration drive after the November by-election, which will include mobile registration centres to reach people closer to their communities.
He also cautioned against political manipulation of voter transfer, stressing that no one will be forced to change their polling station without consent.
“Voter transfer is a personal decision. It must be done willingly and validated through the KIMS kit,” he said.
The commission called for collaboration with stakeholders to strengthen voter education, build public trust, and ensure a credible electoral process ahead of 2027.
