Former Cabinet Secretary and Democratic Party (DP) party leader Justin Muturi has called on President William Ruto to make the issuance of death certificates free, arguing that the move is critical to restoring public confidence in Kenya’s electoral process by wiping out the list of dead voters from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s register.

Speaking in Makueni County on Monday, March 30, 2026, during the United Alternative Government’s campaign tour in the region, Muturi raised concerns over the integrity of the country’s voters’ register, noting that more than two million deceased Kenyans are still listed as active voters. He described the situation as a major flaw that undermines trust in elections and weakens democratic institutions.

“The issuance of death certificates should be free. It is a practical and necessary step toward ensuring that our national records are accurate and that the voters register reflects the true will of the living, not the shadows of those we have lost,” Muturi said.

Voter’s register inaccuracy

Muturi said that many families in the country have trouble getting death certificates because they cost too much, which means that many deaths are not recorded in official government systems. He says that this gap has made national records, especially the voters’ register kept by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, much less accurate.

He warned that the continued presence of deceased voters in the register creates loopholes that can be exploited, raising legitimate concerns about the credibility of election outcomes. Muturi emphasised that transparency and accountability must remain central to Kenya’s democratic process.

Muturi has said that his concerns echo findings from an audit which flagged serious irregularities in the voters register, including duplicate entries and the inclusion of deceased individuals. Muturi noted that such issues are not minor administrative errors but fundamental challenges that must be urgently addressed.

As the electoral body rolls out enhanced continuous voter registration, Muturi urged eligible Kenyans to take part in the exercise, stressing that civic participation remains key to strengthening democracy. At the same time, he called on the IEBC as the institution tasked with managing elections to uphold the highest standards of integrity.

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