IEBC Launches Continuous Voter Registration, Targets 6.3 Million New Voters

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has today, 29th September, launched a nationwide continuous voter registration exercise targeting 6.3 million new voters. The drive is expected to expand the country’s voter roll from the current 22.1 million to over 28 million ahead of the next General Election.

The launch was held at Mashuuru Primary School in Kajiado County, where Governor Joseph Ole Lenku and IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon officiated the event. Officials said the new system is designed to improve inclusivity while preventing duplication, which has previously undermined the credibility of the register.

Under the new system, IEBC will capture voters’ ID details, fingerprints, iris scans, and photographs to ensure unique identification of every registered voter. The biometric approach, the commission explained, will strengthen transparency and accuracy in the voter roll.

The commission has also rolled out ‘open kits’ at Huduma Centres and ward offices, which will allow people to register from any location. For instance, a person in Nairobi can now register to vote directly in Jomvu, Mombasa, without having to travel.

IEBC said the exercise marks a critical step in its electoral reforms and called on all eligible Kenyans to turn up for registration. The commission stressed that wider voter participation is key to strengthening democracy and ensuring inclusive representation in future polls.