The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has reported a surge in voter registration across the country following the rollout of the ‘Niko Kadi’ initiative.

Speaking to a local television station on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Commissioner Dr Alutalala Mukhwana said the campaign is already boosting turnout.

Mukhwana said the initiative, which began in Kasarani last week, has significantly increased the number of Kenyans turning up to register.

“We are seeing a surge across the country since this #NikoKadi initiative began in Kasarani last week,” he said.

He explained that the registration process has been streamlined to take approximately 10 minutes, with first-time voters allowed to register from any location nationwide.

“If you are registering as a first-time voter, you are required to register from anywhere… you don’t need to travel to your home constituency; you register anywhere in the country to vote anywhere in the country,” he said.

According to the commissioner, the process involves filling out a form, capturing biometric data, and signing off to complete registration. He clarified that while voters receive a card after registration, it is not mandatory during voting.

“The card issued upon registration is evidence of registration but is not required during voting. What you need to carry is your ID or passport depending on the document you used to register,” he noted.

Mukhwana said the commission has put in place sufficient personnel and strategies to ensure a smooth exercise, including targeted outreach efforts.

“We have prepared adequately and have enough personnel to allow for seamless voter registration. We shall also have door-to-door and segmented strategies to reach as many people as possible,” he said.

He added that measures have been implemented to reduce voter fraud, particularly by limiting mass voter transfers.

“The possibilities of voter fraud are clearly diminished… we encourage politicians, leaders and even young people to mobilize voters to register as long as it is non-partisan,” he said.

At the same time, the commissioner acknowledged past challenges facing the electoral body and appealed for public trust.

“Our problem is that we have inherited an institution whose reputation has been dented over the years. We are asking Kenyans to give us a chance; we have stolen nobody’s votes,” he said.

He urged Kenyans to move past previous controversies and support the current team.

“Let’s learn to move on from our past troubles and allow new officers to prove their worth,” he added.