IEBC Smashes Voter Registration Record with 2.6 Million New Voters Ahead of 2027 Elections
By Jeff Kizzilah/Digital Editor
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), under the leadership of Chairman Erustus Ethakon, has today unveiled the results of the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) Phase I, marking a significant milestone in Kenya’s electoral preparedness ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The nationwide exercise, conducted between 30th March 2026 and 28th April 2026, was designed as a structured and time-bound initiative aimed at accelerating voter enrolment while enhancing inclusivity, accessibility, and citizen participation across the country.
During the exercise, the Commission operationalized an extensive network of 30,615 registration centres and deployed 12,520 trained registration officials, supported by 5,390 Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits. The registration drive covered all 290 constituencies, 1,450 County Assembly Wards, 57 Huduma Centres, and institutions of higher learning nationwide, as well as the Customer Experience Centre at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi.
Cumulatively, from the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration on 29th September 2025 to the closure of ECVR Phase I, the Commission successfully registered 2,612,725 new voters. Of these, 267,249 were registered under continuous voter registration at IEBC offices, while 2,345,476 were enrolled during the ECVR Phase I campaign.
The Commission noted a remarkable improvement in performance, with weekly registrations surpassing 500,000 voters after the initial week—an indicator of growing public engagement and operational efficiency.
Comparatively, the 2026 ECVR exercise significantly outperformed previous voter registration drives. The 2016 Mass Voter Registration Phase I recorded 1,451,489 voters (36% of its 4 million target), while the 2021 cycle registered 1,519,294 voters against a 3 million target. The latest figures demonstrate more than double the efficiency in target realization, underscoring the effectiveness of the Commission’s evolving strategies.
IEBC attributed this success to deliberate strategic interventions, including expanded access points, targeted outreach programmes, and the integration of technology to streamline the registration process.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening electoral integrity and ensuring that every eligible Kenyan has the opportunity to participate in shaping the country’s democratic future.
