The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced a temporary closure of its constituency offices in Chuka/Igambang’ombe, Tharaka Nithi County, from March 19 to March 22, 2026.

The closure, shared via the IEBC’s official X account on March 20, 2026, is intended for final preparations ahead of the nationwide Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise, scheduled to launch on March 30, 2026.

Normal operations at the offices are set to resume on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 8:00 am. The commission said the brief shutdown is essential for setting up infrastructure and logistics to support the upcoming registration drive.

Residents were urged to prepare for registration, with the notice stating, “Get ready to register! Your vote, your future,” accompanied by hashtags promoting awareness, including #ECVR2026 and #YourVoteYourVoice.

“Residents of Tharaka Nithi are advised of the following updated schedule for our constituency offices: •Closed: 19th March, 22nd March 2026 •Reason: Final preparations for the ECVR Registration Drive. •Resuming: Monday, 23rd March 2026 at 8:00 am. Get ready to register! Your vote, your future.”

Enhanced registration

The ECVR marks an intensified effort to update and expand the national voter register ahead of the 2027 General Elections. Building on the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) that resumed in September 2025, the enhanced programme adopts a decentralised, ward-level outreach model.

This approach brings additional registration kits, voter registration assistants, clerks, and ICT support staff directly to communities, particularly in areas with low voter registration.

The IEBC has also rolled out a structured training programme for personnel, starting with content development by master trainers, followed by Training of Trainers (ToT), and concluding with cluster-level operational sessions for registration officers and temporary staff.

This system is designed to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and citizen-friendly service delivery during the exercise, which is projected to run for 30 days and target up to 2.5 million new registrations in its first phase.

Calls for innovation

The announcement coincides with the shortlisting of candidates for temporary ECVR roles, with interviews ongoing to finalise hires. The commission has emphasised that an inclusive and accurate voter roll is key to credible elections.

Former Chief Justice and United Green Movement Party leader David Maraga, responding to the youth-led #TukoKadi campaign, urged the IEBC on March 19, 2026, to accelerate the process.

Maraga praised the initiative and suggested innovative outreach, including mobile caravans, concerts, and community events, to engage young voters beyond traditional offices, highlighting the need for an “agile” commission responsive to citizens.

Temporary measures in constituencies like Chuka/Igambang’ombe underscore the IEBC’s commitment to thorough preparation amid growing public interest in voter participation. As Kenya moves toward 2027, the ECVR is set to play a pivotal role in empowering citizens, especially the youth, to shape the nation’s democratic future.