IEBC explains which pre-2012 voters must register afresh after uproar
By Kenneth Mwenda, April 4, 2026The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has clarified that Kenyans who registered as voters before 2012 are not automatically included in the current biometric Register of Voters (RoV).
In a post shared on April 4, 2026, the Commission explained that only those who missed registration after 2012 need to enrol afresh.
“Should those who registered before 2012 as voters need to register afresh? Not at all UNLESS they DID NOT register as voters from 2012 when the new Register of Voter (RoV) was established under the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and boundaries delimitation of 2012,” the statement read.
Before 2012, the voter register was manual. In 2012, it transitioned to a biometric system, requiring all eligible Kenyans to enrol and have their biometrics captured. This biometric register has been in use since 2013. As of the 2022 General Election, the Commission maintained a verified register of 22,120,458 voters.
Chairperson Erastus Ethekon said:
“We have not asked all old voters pre-2012 to register afresh. Only those few who might have missed to register in 2012 and have never registered under the biometric system need to do so.”
Voter registration guidance update
The clarification follows IEBC’s earlier statement that all individuals registered before 2012 are not included in the current biometric RoV unless they re-registered after 2012.
IEBC continues its nationwide Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise, which began on March 30, 2026, and runs until April 28, 2026. The exercise is taking place in all 1,450 County Assembly Wards, institutions of higher learning, Huduma Centres, the Customer Experience Centre at Anniversary Towers, and constituency offices.
The Commission also provided guidance on voter transfers. Citizens wishing to transfer must report to the registration officer in the constituency they wish to move to and submit their biometrics afresh.
“This ensures proper verification and prevents unlawful mass transfers,” Ethekon said.
He added that registration is open nationwide and not restricted to the home counties.
“The Commission has deployed open kits, which allow a citizen to register from any registration centre and vote at their preferred polling station across Kenya,” he explained.
The IEBC also called on young people, including first-time voters and Gen Z, to take part.
“Our primary mission during this window is simple: ‘kuwakatia KADI’ (to ensure you get that voter’s card). This slip represents more than proof of registration; it signifies a citizen’s commitment to participate in the democratic process and to hold leadership accountable,” Ethekon said.
The decision to direct old voters to enrol afresh sparked public uproar, with a section of political leaders led by Martha Karua questioning the directive.
“Your right to vote is not conditional. It is guaranteed under Article 38 of our Constitution. Kenyans cannot be punished for administrative failures within the IEBC,” Karua stated.