West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin has issued a formal appeal to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the national government to provide special treatment and affirmative action for pastoralist communities during the voter registration process.

The governor warned that many eligible voters risk being locked out as pastoralist communities migrate in search of pasture.

Speaking in a presser on Monday, April 27, 2026, Kachapin said the nomadic lifestyle of pastoralists, many of whom move across borders, including into neighbouring Uganda, makes it difficult for them to register within the limited timeframe as the exercise nears its closure on April 28, 2026.

Kachapin stated that without targeted interventions, a number of eligible voters in pastoralist regions such as West Pokot could miss out on the opportunity to participate in the electoral process.

“The pastoralist communities should be given special consideration through affirmative action. These are communities that have historically been marginalised, and their livelihoods depend on moving from one place to another with their livestock,” Kachapin said.

The governor urged IEBC to consider extending the registration period in pastoralist areas and increasing outreach efforts to ensure that eligible citizens are not disenfranchised due to their mobility. He argued that tailored approaches are necessary to capture voters in regions where populations are constantly on the move.

Kachapin further suggested that government agencies could explore coordinated arrangements in cross-border areas to ensure eligible Kenyans who temporarily move into neighbouring countries are not left out of national processes such as voter registration.

Registration deadline

Kachapin’s concerns come as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) confirmed that the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (#ECVR2026) is in its final stretch.

In a statement on the commission’s X account on Sunday, April 26, 2026, IEBC noted that the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (#ECVR2026) will end on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, urging all unregistered Kenyans to participate in the exercise before being locked out.

“2 days to the end of Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (#ECVR2026). Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (#ECVR2026) will END on Tuesday, 28th April 2026. Register as a Voter Today!,” IEBC noted.

IEBC new voters

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) recently announced that 1,876,274 new voters have been registered since the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise began on March 30, 2026.

In its latest update released on Friday, April 24, 2026, the commission said the figure reflects an increase of 505,344 new registrations in six days, rising from 1,370,930 reported on April 17, 2026.

“New registered voters: The number of newly registered voters since the commencement of ECVR on 30th March, 2026, to 23rd April, 2026, is 1,876,274,” read the IEBC statement in part.