The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in Kiambu Constituency has surpassed its voter registration target, recording over 10,000 new voters as the first phase of the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise came to a close on April 28, 2026.
The exercise, which began on March 30, exceeded the initial target of 9,922 new voters set by Constituency Registration Officer Beatrice Saki Muli. The target had been distributed across four wards: Township, Ndumberi, Riabai, and Ting’ang’a, reflecting a structured effort to boost voter numbers ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Stakeholder Mobilisation Drives Success
IEBC attributed the achievement to a coordinated mobilisation strategy that brought together key community stakeholders, including women groups, persons with disabilities (PWDs), religious leaders, political aspirants, chiefs, youth leaders, and grassroots organisers.
To further enhance turnout, the Commission expanded registration efforts beyond traditional centres, conducting civic education forums and outreach drives in churches, sports grounds, and town centres. In some areas, officials even adopted door-to-door campaigns to reach more eligible voters.
Youth Engagement and Awareness
Despite the success, concerns had earlier been raised over low awareness among young people, particularly regarding registration requirements such as possession of national identity cards. Youth leaders called for increased civic education to ensure wider participation.
Addressing these concerns, Muli emphasized that all voter registration and transfer processes are conducted under strict procedures to protect the integrity of the register.
“Transfer of voters is not being done by clerks, but by the constituency office because it requires internet connectivity, and this now becomes a security issue. They have to use IEBC Wi-Fi, which is safe,” she said.
National Progress Towards 2027 Elections
Nationally, IEBC has recorded 1,876,274 new voters as of April 23, 2026, with an additional 159,410 voters transferring to new polling stations. This is part of the Commission’s broader target of registering 6.3 million new voters ahead of the 2027 General Election, with 2.5 million expected during the first phase.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon, speaking during an oversight visit in Baringo County, commended the role of National Government Administration Officers, clergy, civil society groups, and community leaders in supporting the exercise.
“IEBC has a mandate to register voters, conduct elections, and declare the winners in each election. These processes are pegged on numbers,” he said.
Strengthening Democratic Participation
The successful registration drive in Kiambu highlights growing public engagement in the electoral process, particularly at the grassroots level. With continued civic education and stakeholder collaboration, the Commission is expected to scale up efforts in subsequent phases to meet its national target.
The ECVR exercise remains a critical pillar in strengthening democratic participation and ensuring that more Kenyans are included in shaping the country’s leadership in the upcoming elections.
