Yes. You can register as a voter in Kenya without a national ID if you have a valid Kenyan passport. However, you cannot register using an ID waiting slip, birth certificate or photocopy of your ID in place of the required original document.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) requires an original national identity card or a valid Kenyan passport. This distinction matters for anyone preparing to register for the 2027 election, especially young Kenyans still waiting for their first ID.
What does the law require?
Section 5(3) of the Elections Act provides for registration of Kenyan citizens aged 18 or above, with their age evidenced by a national identity card or Kenyan passport, upon application in the prescribed manner.
Having an identification document does not automatically put you on the voter register. You must also apply to IEBC for registration.
Can you register using a passport?
Yes. A valid Kenyan passport is an accepted alternative for voter registration.
IEBC’s published requirements allow eligible applicants to present either an original national ID or a valid Kenyan passport. Someone who already has a valid Kenyan passport therefore has an option even if their national ID is unavailable.
The voter registration application, Form A, also provides for an identity card number or Kenyan passport number. Applicants declare that they possess the document whose number they enter on the form.
Is an ID waiting slip enough?
No. An ID waiting slip confirms that you have applied for an identity card, but it does not meet IEBC’s published requirement for an original national ID or a valid Kenyan passport.
The same applies to a birth certificate, student ID, driving licence, photocopy or photograph of your national ID: these do not replace the identification documents IEBC specifies for registration.
If you are waiting for your first ID and do not have a valid Kenyan passport, follow up on the ID’s processing and collection before going to register.
What if your ID is lost?
For a new registration application, knowing your ID number or having a copy of the lost card does not satisfy the requirement to present the original document.
If you have a valid Kenyan passport, you can use that accepted alternative. Otherwise, arrange for a replacement ID. A police abstract or replacement application slip does not substitute for the original ID or valid passport specified by IEBC.
If you were already registered before losing your ID, first check your existing voter details rather than applying for a second registration. IEBC provides for inspection of the register through its constituency offices.
What should you do before visiting IEBC?
Check that you have your original national ID or valid Kenyan passport, then confirm the registration location and service availability with IEBC.
During registration, review the names, document number and polling station recorded by the officer. IEBC’s registration procedure provides for applicants to verify captured information and have errors corrected before enrolment is completed.
For anyone without a national ID, the practical answer is straightforward: a valid Kenyan passport gives you another route to voter registration. Without either accepted document, you need to obtain one before applying.
