The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has resumed continuous voter registration as part of its plan to register about 28.5 million voters by the 2027 General Election.

The exercise was officially launched at Mashuuru Primary School in Kajiado East constituency, where IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon urged Kenyans to take advantage of the window to either register as new voters, correct errors in their details, or transfer their registration to a polling station of choice.

“The Commission projects that come 2027 we should have registered about 28.5 million voters,” Ethekon said.

Currently, Kenya has about 22.12 million registered voters from the 2022 elections. To meet its 2027 target, the Commission has started with continuous voter registration at constituency offices across the country. However, areas where by-elections are scheduled will be exempt until after the polls are concluded on November 27, 2025.

Elsewhere, DCP leaders have urged the commission to ensure fairness in voter registration.

According to Ethekon, mass voter registration will begin immediately after the by-elections. This larger exercise will extend to villages and wards to capture as many eligible Kenyans as possible.

“This exercise is a vital step in ensuring that every eligible Kenyan has the opportunity to participate in shaping the country’s future through democratic elections. It is particularly directed towards young people who have recently attained 18 years, and all citizens who have not yet registered or need to update their voter information,” he said.

The services offered during the ongoing registration include new voter enrolment, correction or updating of details, transfer of registration to another polling area, and verification of information.

Also watch: Youths urged to register as voters.

Who is eligible to register

IEBC states that any Kenyan citizen aged 18 years and above with a valid national identity card or passport qualifies to register. In addition, an applicant must not have been registered before, must not have been convicted of an election offence in the last five years, and must not be declared of unsound mind.

Analysts note that young voters will play a major role in the 2027 elections. Projections show that about 5.6 million new voters, mainly from the Gen Z population, are expected to join the roll. This group will be crucial in shaping the political outcome, as parties and presidential hopefuls intensify efforts to appeal to their concerns.

Earlier, the Commission had proposed registering 2.27 million new voters in the current financial year and another 3.4 million in the following year. If successful, this will push the total registered voters to close to 28 million by 2027.

“So this exercise that begins today will continue until a few months before the general election, when we will close the registration process and then commence a process of auditing the voter register, so that then we clean it up before we publish the final voter register, which will be generated and that is the register that will be used during the general elections on August 10th.” Ethekon said on Monday September 29, 2025.

Challenges ahead

Despite the ambitious target, the IEBC faces several challenges. In past years, budget cuts and leadership gaps delayed continuous voter registration. The Commission in November 2021 warned that it costs about Ksh1,000 to enlist one voter, meaning the exercise will require significant resources. Moreover, unresolved issues such as the appointment of commissioners and pending by-elections could slow preparations.

Even so, the Commission insists that updating the register is a constitutional obligation and a cornerstone of transparent elections. Political leaders have also urged citizens, especially the youth, to register in large numbers. Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and DAP-K boss Eugene Wamalwa recently rallied young people in Kajiado to seize the opportunity and secure their role in the next elections.