IEBC raises alarm over low voter registration in Busia
By Emmanuel Rono, April 15, 2026Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana has expressed concerns over the sluggish pace of voter registration in Busia County.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement forum in Busia on April 15, 2026, Commissioner Mukhwana revealed that the region has only achieved 40 per cent of its target despite the process being halfway through the month-long mass exercise.
He noted that while the commission has reached the mid-point of the exercise, the numbers on the ground do not reflect the expected turnout.
“We have done the best we can. This exercise is only for 30 days. We have done halfway, Busia is only at 40 per cent, yet we are over half the month that has been given,” Mukhwana said.
Need for grassroot mobilisation
Mukhwana further challenged the local political leaders to take a more active role in mobilising their constituents.
He revealed that political leaders in the Western region have not been forthcoming with the necessary support to drive numbers up.
“We’ve come to talk to the governor, and specifically we have sought his support in helping us realise the mobilisation that we are seeking and particularly to talk to his fellow leaders in this region because sadly we notice that our political leaders in this region have not been very forthcoming, and we are not getting the sufficient support from them,” Mukhwana stated.
New voters registered
In its latest update on Friday, April 10, 2026, the Commission revealed that 531,185 new voters have been registered between April 3 and April 9, 2026, under the ongoing Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise.
This brings the total number of newly registered voters since the exercise began on March 30, 2026, to an impressive 875,501.
“In just seven days, we have witnessed a remarkable surge in numbers. This growth is not just a statistic; it is a testament to a nation that is awake, engaged, and ready to take charge of its destiny,” the commission said in a press statement.
“We wish to extend our sincere appreciation and congratulations to the hundreds of thousands of citizens who have stepped forward to claim their right to vote. To every Kenyan who stood in line this week: thank you for answering the call of your country.”