Youth turn out in large numbers as IEBC closes enhanced voter registration drive

Youth turned up in large numbers at voter registration centres in various parts of the country on Tuesday as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) wrapped up the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise.

In Kahawa West, young people flocked to registration centres on the final day of the mass voter registration drive in a last-minute rush to beat the deadline.

Likewise, in Garissa Township Constituency, voter registration officials said the region had already achieved 92 per cent of its target as the exercise comes to an end.

Speaking to the press, registration officer Abdi Yunis Mohammed said the constituency was closing in on its target, with fewer than 500 voters remaining.

"Huku shughuli ya usajili wa wapigakura ulioimarishwa ukikamilika leo, eneo bunge la Garissa mjini limenakili asilimia 92 ya wapiga kura wapya kufikia sasa," alisema.

"Tumekaribia idadi ya waliokuwa wakilengwa kwenye usajili huo kwa upungufu wa watu chini ya mia tano ambao tunatarajia kuwasajili kufikia mwisho wa siku ya leo.”

The turnout mirrored a nationwide surge recorded in recent days, with the commission revealing that it had registered 1,876,274 new voters since the exercise began on March 30.

In its latest update, IEBC said it had achieved 75 per cent of its 2.5 million target, with 505,344 new voters registered between April 17 and April 23 alone, highlighting a sharp increase in last-minute registrations.

Alongside the new registrations, 159,410 voters applied for transfers, while 2,817 updated their registration details, signalling active movement within the voter database 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 an earlier statement.

Data released by the commission showed Nairobi County leading in new registrations with 209,965 voters, followed by Kiambu (97,557) and Nakuru (81,166).

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

Lamu recorded the lowest turnout at 8,345, while low registration numbers were also reported in Isiolo and Mandera.

IEBC said eligible Kenyans will still be able to register after the deadline through continuous registration at Huduma Centres, constituency IEBC offices and at the commission headquarters at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi.