The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has raised concerns over the low turnout in the ongoing voter registration exercise, urging Kenyans to take advantage of continuous voter registration (CVR).
Speaking on Spice FM on Thursday, November 13, IEBC Commissioner Ann Nderitu highlighted that the Commission’s target of registering 6.8 million new voters remains far from being achieved. As of last week, IEBC had recorded 90,020 new voters, a number that has since risen to approximately 110,000.
“In terms of voter registration, we’re not doing well as a country, falling short of our target. Many Kenyans are not coming out to register,” said Nderitu.
The Commission continues with CVR, which remains open nationwide except in areas where by-elections are ongoing. Nderitu urged citizens to register early, warning that last-minute registration can create logistical challenges and disrupt the process.
The 6.8 million target was informed by the expected number of Kenyans obtaining new identification cards (IDs), the primary requirement for voter registration. However, current numbers indicate a significantly lower turnout than anticipated.
According to IEBC’s November 2 statement, Nairobi County led in new registrations with 16,512, followed by Kiambu (9,917) and Machakos (4,026). Other notable counties included Mombasa (3,967), Meru (3,128), Nakuru (3,265), and Murang’a (3,330). Conversely, Tana River (130), Samburu (319), and Isiolo (312) recorded the lowest numbers.
In addition to new registrations, 15,619 people transferred their voter details to different polling stations, while 188 updated their particulars.
Looking ahead, Nderitu revealed that after the November 27 by-elections, IEBC plans to conduct mass voter registration by visiting polling stations and schools directly. This approach differs from the ongoing CVR, which is primarily conducted at IEBC offices across the 290 constituencies.
Kenyans are encouraged to register early to ensure a smooth and efficient process ahead of upcoming elections.
