Over 490,000 IDs uncollected as voter registration deadline nears

With just 14 days remaining before the curtain falls on the enhanced continuous voter registration exercise, government agencies are racing against time to clear a backlog of more than 490,000 uncollected national ID cards lying at centres across the country.

In Nyanza region alone, a staggering 80,027 cards remained unclaimed as of April 10, despite the rollout of Huduma Mashinani services aimed at bringing government services closer to the people.

Nyamira County Commissioner Shufaa Mwajuma said: “Tuna vitambulsiho kiasi kama elfu tano vilivyo kwa ofisi na tumewahamasisha kila mtu aje achukue maana kitambulisho ni kwamba mtu anapaswa asign kama amechukua…hatuwezi kusema tutamchukulia kisha katikati kutokee jambo.”

The growing pile of uncollected documents has now sparked action from youth under the Niko Kadi banner.

Speaking after a sensitization drive in Kisumu, the group urged the IEBC to scale up civic education and help demystify the importance of voting.

Humphrey Ogola, a resident of Ahero, said: “There is that perception that when I am going to vote, what am I being given? Some of them are even asking IEBC…so it is something that needs civic education.”

Abonyo Abonyo added: “In the Registrar’s office, there are many IDs lying there…please, youth of today must go and collect that card and then register as voters.

Daniel Lenarum, Nyamira elections manager, noted: “We are aware that we are below the target but we will continue steadily to reach that target through various initiatives including voter mobilization”

The enhanced continuous voter registration exercise is set to conclude on April 28, with the IEBC targeting at least 2.5 million new voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.