The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) asked Kenyans who registered as voters before 2012 to register afresh, saying they are not included in the current biometric Register of Voters (RoV) unless they later updated their details.
IEBC Chairman Erastus Ethekon said the current register was established in 2012 following major electoral reforms that introduced biometric voter registration to enhance the credibility and transparency of elections.
“As a result, individuals who registered before 2012 are not part of the current biometric register unless they presented themselves for fresh registration,” said Ethekon.
The reforms were anchored in the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the Elections Act, which made biometric data a requirement for voter identification.
The Commission is now urging all affected voters, alongside first-time registrants, to take advantage of the ongoing Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise to secure their place in the register.
IEBC particularly appealed to young people, including Gen Z and other first-time voters, to turn up in large numbers, terming registration a key civic responsibility and a cornerstone of democratic governance.
Under the current exercise, eligible citizens can register at any centre across the country using mobile biometric kits, without the need to travel to their home counties. Voters seeking to transfer to new polling stations are, however, required to appear in person at IEBC constituency offices and submit fresh biometric data to verify their request.
The Commission said the requirement is intended to curb fraudulent or unauthorized voter transfers and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
The nationwide registration drive is ongoing daily, including weekends and public holidays, and will run until April 28, 2026. IEBC has warned that there will be no extension after the deadline.
Ethekon urged Kenyans to register early and avoid last-minute rush, calling on communities to mobilize eligible members to participate in the exercise.
“The time to register is now,” he said.
The commission launched Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise on 30th March 2026.
It will run for 30 days and close on 28th April 2026 in all the 1,450 County Assembly Wards (CAWs).
According to IEBC, the newly registered voters are 344,316, transfers are 18,610 and change/update of particulars are 329.
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