Ex-CJ Maraga Demands Immediate Resumption of Voter Registration

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to immediately resume continuous voter registration in readiness for the 2027 General Election.

Maraga raised concern that the electoral body has not conducted any new voter registration exercise since the 2022 General Election, a gap that has already locked out millions of Kenyans who have turned 18 in the past two years. He warned that failure to register new voters risks disenfranchising a large number of young people who are now eligible to participate in the country’s democratic processes.

He stressed that the Commission has a constitutional responsibility to ensure that every eligible citizen is accorded the right to register and vote, cautioning that selective execution of its mandate erodes public confidence.

Maraga also challenged IEBC to not only resume continuous voter listing but to organize a mass registration campaign targeting newly eligible voters, especially in schools, colleges, and rural areas where access to registration centers may be limited.

The remarks come at a time when IEBC is facing scrutiny over its preparedness for the next elections. The Commission has been grappling with leadership gaps following the resignation and retirement of several commissioners, as well as persistent budgetary constraints that have slowed down electoral reforms. However, the newly sworn commission led by Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon has maintained their commitment to ensure a proper, fair and credible 2027 elections.

Civil society groups and political actors have in recent months pressed the Commission to prioritize updating the voter register, noting that the credibility of the 2027 polls will largely depend on a transparent and inclusive registration process.

Analysts argue that unless IEBC resumes the exercise soon, Kenya could face a repeat of the 2017 and 2022 scenarios where voter registration drives were hurriedly launched close to the election period, creating logistical bottlenecks and disputes over the integrity of the register.