IEBC Launches Drive to Register Millions of New Voters Ahead of 2027 Polls

 

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced an ambitious plan to register 6.3 million new voters in preparation for the 2027 General Election. The commission says the registration drive, set to begin on September 29, 2025, is aimed at expanding the voter roll to more than 28 million Kenyans.

The Continuous Voter Registration exercise will be conducted across all constituency offices, except in areas where by-elections are taking place. The process will cater for new voter registration, transfer of registration for those who have relocated, correction or updating of voter details, and verification of existing information.

IEBC projects that a large portion of the new voters will be young Kenyans, particularly Gen Z, who have reached voting age since the last election. To attract this demographic, the commission has lined up stakeholder forums, public awareness campaigns, and enhanced voter education to encourage participation.

To ensure smooth implementation, the commission has been mapping registration centers to improve accessibility across the country, testing and configuring KIEMS kits, consolidating geospatial data for better resource allocation, and training staff who will conduct registration at the grassroots level. An audit of the voters’ register is also planned roughly eight months before the polls in line with electoral guidelines.

The CVR exercise is part of IEBC’s wider KSh.57.3 billion budget for the 2027 elections. Out of this, about KSh.8 billion has been set aside for voter registration alone. Additional allocations include KSh.2.5 billion for voter education and stakeholder engagement, and KSh.7 billion to replace aging KIEMS kits.

Despite the elaborate plan, IEBC faces challenges that could affect the exercise. These include logistical hurdles in remote areas, the need to rebuild public trust in the commission, and ensuring reliable technology during registration and voting. Political analysts also warn that without adequate funding and transparency, the target of 6.3 million new voters may be difficult to achieve.

As Kenya edges closer to the 2027 elections, the success of the registration drive will be a critical test of IEBC’s capacity to deliver a credible poll. For millions of first-time voters, especially the youth, this exercise could be the gateway to shaping the country’s future leadership.
Reporting by: Babz Abdul Raheem N.
Date: September 29, 2025