Nairobi: The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced the successful registration of over 2.6 million new voters following the conclusion of the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) Phase I exercise, which was conducted from March 30 to April 28, 2026.
According to Kenya News Agency, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon revealed that the Commission enlisted a total of 2,612,725 new voters since the resumption of continuous registration in September 2025. Of these, 2,345,476 were registered during the 30-day mass registration exercise, while 267,249 were captured through routine registration at constituency offices. Ethekon emphasized the significance of this achievement, noting that the Commission surpassed its target of 2.5 million voters within just 30 days, showcasing improved efficiency and public participation compared to previous cycles.
The registration exercise was conducted across all 290 constituencies and over 1,400 county assembly wards, with support from 30,615 registration centres and 12,520 personnel. The Commission also deployed 5,390 Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits to facilitate biometric voter registration. Ethekon attributed the improved performance to strategic interventions, including the 'open kit' system, which allowed eligible voters to register at any centre regardless of their place of origin, eliminating geographical barriers and enabling convenient registration for citizens working or studying away from home.
The IEBC also expanded registration points to universities, colleges, Huduma Centres, and its Customer Experience Centre in Nairobi, increasing accessibility, particularly among youth and first-time voters. Furthermore, the Commission adopted data-driven planning and real-time monitoring, with weekly public updates on registration figures enhancing transparency and encouraging mobilisation in low-performing regions. Unlike previous exercises, dynamic ID-based data was utilised to guide deployment and resource allocation.
Ethekon credited the success to multisectoral partnerships involving national and county governments, civil society organisations, media, and youth groups, which helped mobilise citizens across the country. Despite the achievements, the Commission acknowledged challenges such as regional disparities in voter registration, logistical constraints in remote areas, and security concerns. Vast distances, limited infrastructure, and harsh terrain in arid and semi-arid regions affected registration outcomes, while isolated incidents of threats to registration staff required enhanced security coordination.
The Commission also highlighted the growing threat of misinformation during the exercise, emphasizing the need for continuous public communication and verification of official data. Ethekon lauded Kenyans for their strong turnout, particularly young people, whom he described as 'the energy that powered this exercise'. He also commended elderly citizens, pastoralist communities, women, and persons with disabilities for participating in the process despite challenges.
As part of the next phase, the IEBC has begun compiling and verifying the register of voters through a multi-stage system involving biometric data validation, de-duplication, and public inspection. Each voter's details will undergo rigorous verification to ensure the final register is accurate, credible, and free of duplication. Once data cleaning and validation are complete, the register will be subjected to an independent audit before being gazetted as the official voters' roll for the 2027 elections.
The Commission has encouraged registered voters to verify their details once the verification window opens and report any discrepancies through the established claims and objections process. Continuous voter registration will proceed at Huduma Centres, IEBC constituency offices, and the Nairobi headquarters to ensure more eligible Kenyans are captured ahead of the August 10, 2027 General Election. Ethekon stated that the gains realised during this exercise provide a strong foundation for a credible and inclusive electoral process, highlighting that a reliable register of voters remains the cornerstone of free, fair, and transparent elections.