IEBC Targets 6.3 Million New Voters Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has set a target to register 6.3 million new voters ahead of the 2027 General Election, adding to the current 22.1 million registered voters.

The continuous voter registration exercise will begin on Monday, September 29, 2025. The National Assembly’s Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) has urged all eligible Kenyans who have not yet registered to take part.

Committee Chairperson Geoffrey Omondi called on young people, especially Generation Z, to turn up in large numbers and take charge of shaping the country’s future.

“This is a defining moment for the youth of Kenya. If you want change, you must be part of the process. Register and be counted,” Omondi said.

Appearing before the Committee, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon assured lawmakers that the Commission is fully prepared to resume the registration exercise in line with the Constitution, which mandates continuous voter registration.

He outlined preparations already in place, including reviewing and mapping registration centres, testing and configuring Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits, procuring registration materials, and training staff to ensure standardisation across the country.

The IEBC will also carry out targeted voter education campaigns focusing on youth, women, marginalized groups, and Kenyans living abroad.

To meet its target, the Commission plans to use constituency offices, Huduma Centres, and ward-based registration drives. It will also extend outreach to universities and colleges, while setting up registration points for Kenyans in the diaspora.

However, the Commission clarified that only passports will be accepted for voter registration abroad, except for East Africa-based Kenyans who may use national ID cards.

This sparked concern from MPs, who questioned the move, arguing that passports expire while ID cards do not. They also raised worries that many Kenyans abroad without proper documentation could be locked out of the process.

“They are still Kenyans and must not be disenfranchised. We must find a way to include them in the democratic process,” Omondi said.

Despite the concerns, the Committee praised the IEBC’s leadership under Ethekon for presenting what they described as a comprehensive roadmap towards the 2027 elections.