The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has reported a strong start to the nationwide voter registration drive, with 344,316 new voters enrolled four days after the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise was launched.

In a press release issued on April 3, 2026, the commission said the figures reflect the early progress of the 30-day mass registration campaign launched on March 30 and scheduled to end on April 28, 2026.

The IEBC said the exercise aims to enlist 2.5 million new voters into the biometric Register of Voters (RoV) ahead of the 2027 General Election, raising the total number of registered voters to 28.5 million.

The ongoing registration builds on a constituency-based voter registration exercise conducted earlier, which had added 273,498 voters by March 30, 2026.

“On 29th September 2025, we launched the constituency based voter registration and as at 30th March 2026, when we launched ECVR, the total figures were 273,498.

“With regards to the ongoing ECVR, below are the figures as at yesterday, Thursday, 2nd April 2026:i. Newly registered voters: 344,316 ii. Transfers: 18,610 iii. Change/update of particulars: 329A detailed county-by-county breakdown of the registration statistics is annexed to this release,” IEBC’s statement read in part.

Registration numbers rise

According to the commission, the exercise has also recorded 18,610 voter transfers and 329 changes or updates of voter particulars.

Nairobi City County registered the highest number of new voters at 42,417. Other counties with high registration figures include Kiambu with 18,252, Nakuru with 14,324, Kakamega with 11,952 and Meru with 11,106.

Kisii registered 10,455 new voters while Bungoma recorded 9,842 and Turkana 9,472. At the Coast, Kilifi registered 8,750 voters while Mombasa recorded 8,565.

The commission said registration is taking place in all the 1,450 County Assembly Wards as well as institutions of higher learning, Huduma Centres, the Customer Experience Centre at Anniversary Towers and IEBC constituency offices.

Registration rules clarified

IEBC chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said the exercise is running daily, including weekends and public holidays.

With about 25 days remaining before the exercise closes on April 28, 2026, the commission urged Kenyans to take advantage of the ongoing Easter period to register.

“The time to register is now,” Ethekon stated.

The commission also clarified that citizens do not need to travel to their home counties to register. Using open registration kits, voters can register at any centre and later vote at their preferred polling station.

For voter transfers, registered voters are required to appear before the registration officer at the IEBC constituency office where they wish to transfer and submit fresh biometric details, in line with Section 7 of the Elections Act, 2012.

Election areas affected

IEBC noted that registration is currently not taking place in areas with scheduled by-elections or ongoing election petitions.

These include Porro and Endo County Assembly Wards as well as Emurua Dikirr and Ol Kalou constituencies. Malava and Mbeere North constituencies are also affected due to pending election petitions.

The commission further clarified that the current biometric Register of Voters came into operation in 2012 after the introduction of biometric voter registration.

As a result, individuals who registered before 2012 and did not subsequently enrol in the biometric system are required to register afresh to be included in the current voters’ register.