IEBC adds 505,344 new voters in one week amid late registration rush

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has registered 1,876,274 new voters in just under a month, marking a sharp uptick in Kenya’s voter roll as the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise heads into its final stretch.

In its latest status update released on Friday, the commission said the figure reflects registrations recorded between March 30 and April 23, with 505,344 new voters added in the past week alone, a surge that underscores a late rush by Kenyans to beat the deadline.

Alongside the new registrations, 159,410 voters applied for transfers, while 2,817 updated their registration details, signaling active movement within the voter database as citizens reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.

“As the ECVR draws to a close, and with four (4) days remaining, we urge all eligible voters who have not yet registered to seize this opportunity to enlist as voters,” IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said in the statement.

The IEBC boss noted that voter registration remains the gateway to democratic participation, emphasizing that constitutional rights tied to elections can only be exercised once a citizen is duly registered.

“By doing so, citizens play a direct role in shaping Kenya’s future and strengthening our democratic governance,” he said.

Data in the report shows Nairobi County leading in new registrations with 209,965 voters, followed by Kiambu (97,557) and Nakuru (81,166), reflecting higher urban turnout.

Counties such as Kakamega (80,711) and Bungoma (62,203) also posted strong numbers, pointing to significant mobilization in Western Kenya.

The commission detailed a rigorous multi-stage process behind the compilation of the Register of Voters, including biometric data capture, de-duplication, and verification to eliminate multiple registrations and inconsistencies.

“Only after completion of these processes are the validated records compiled into the Register of Voters for 30 days of verification of biometric data,” Ethekon said.

IEBC further clarified that once the verification, audit, and validation processes are complete, the register will be certified and published in the Kenya Gazette, forming the official voter roll for the 2027 elections.

The commission also pushed back against misinformation and interference, warning that such actions risk undermining the credibility of the electoral process.

“Such conduct is inimical to democratic governance and erodes public confidence in the electoral system,” added the IEBC chief.

Upon closure of the current exercise on April 28, voter registration will revert to continuous registration at Huduma Centres and constituency offices nationwide.

“The legitimacy of democratic authority is anchored in the integrity of the Register of Voters and is ultimately affirmed through the free and sovereign will of the people,” said Ethekon.