Mt. Kenya set to hold over 7 million votes in 2027 as IEBC ramps up registration

Projections by the electoral body show the Mt. Kenya region could emerge with the largest share of votes in the 2027 General Election, with more than 7 million voters, accounting for over 25 percent of the national voter roll.

The region played a decisive role in the 2022 elections, voting overwhelmingly for President William Samoei Ruto in one of the country’s most competitive presidential races.

Over the years, Mt. Kenya has remained a key voting bloc, producing three of Kenya’s five presidents, including Jomo Kenyatta, Uhuru Kenyatta, and Mwai Kibaki.

In the 2022 polls, President Ruto secured 7,176,141 votes nationally, with approximately 2.9 million votes coming from the region’s ten counties, representing about 41 percent of his total vote. The region recorded a voter turnout of 3.9 million, translating to 67 percent.

"Nyinyi ndiyo mlifanya president na watu wanataka kutukosanisha," said President Ruto.

The IEBC is targeting to register 6.3 million new voters by 2027, with about 1.7 million expected to come from the Mt. Kenya region, representing nearly 27 percent of the total target.

Kiambu is projected to lead in new registrations with 363,000 voters, followed by Nakuru at 300,000, while Murang’a is expected to contribute 177,000 new voters.

If the targets are met, the region’s total registered voters could rise to about 7.4 million by 2027, contributing to an ambitious national voter roll target of 28 million.

The growing influence of the region appears to have informed recent political realignments, with former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua closing ranks in a show of unity against President Ruto.

"I'm not vying for any political seat, the way you vote I will be in Ichaweri I don't have a problem, but if you make a mistake, it will be up to you," said Uhuru Kenyatta.

"Ruto thought he was one of us, he is not, he should forget the mountain," said Rigathi Gachagua.

President Ruto and his Deputy Kithure Kindiki have also intensified their outreach in the region, seeking to consolidate support ahead of the next election.

"Kwani mnadhani kuna mtu anaweza kunitisha? Ati anataka kunikosanishha na watu wa Nyeri. Hawa nitapambana na wao hapa mbele. Kama kuna mtu anafikiria atapiga kelele kuniwachanisha na nyinyi, nyinyi mlifanya rais. Kwani mimi ni wazimu," said President Ruto.

"We will humble you just like we did in the Mbeere North by-elections. You will not allow to intimidate and blackmail elected leaders through insults and threats of making them unelectable. You found us in politics, you cannot teach us anything," said Prof. Kithure Kindiki.

As the 2027 General Election approaches, the Mt. Kenya region is expected to remain at the centre of political contestation, with intensified competition for its vote.

This comes as the IEBC continues to make progress in its voter registration drive, revealing that in just four days it registered 344,316 new voters, alongside 18,610 transfers and 329 updates of voter details.

The commission has now registered a total of 617,814 new voters since the exercise began on September 29, 2025.