Embakasi North Member of Parliament James Gakuya has raised concerns about how the ongoing voter registration exercise is being conducted, stating that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is making it difficult for ordinary Kenyans to participate.

Speaking during a political show hosted by a local TV station on Monday, September 30, 2025, Gakuya said limiting registration points to one centre in each constituency was unfair and locked out many people who wished to register as voters. He argued that the commission should rethink its approach and bring services closer to the people.

“If IEBC were to be fair, they should ensure the registration exercise is not limited to one centre, as some are too far,” Gakuya said, noting that many Kenyans live miles away from the designated points.

The legislator explained that it was not realistic to expect citizens to travel long distances just to register when the cost of living had already pushed many families to the edge. He called for the exercise to be decentralised to reach people at the ward level.

“Instead, it should be spread to every ward for easier access,” he added. “Having one centre per constituency is just helping those around those places to register.”

Gakuya linked the challenge directly to the economic hardships Kenyans are facing, saying most households cannot afford the cost of travelling for voter registration.

“In addition, with the current economy down, most people cannot afford the Ksh1000 needed for a round trip to register,” he said. “The government should think about it and ensure there are new centres nearby.”

The MP emphasised that unless something changes, only a fraction of eligible voters will manage to register, and this could deny many Kenyans the chance to participate in future elections.

His remarks come at a time when IEBC has launched continuous voter registration ahead of the upcoming by-elections and in preparation for the 2027 General Election. The Commission has been urging citizens, especially the youth and first-time voters, to take advantage of the exercise.