Title: Elog Raises Alarm Over Slow Voter Registration Ahead of 2027 Elections
The Elections Observation Group (Elog) has raised concerns over the sluggish pace of Kenya’s continuous voter registration (CVR), warning that the country risks falling short of its six-million new voter target ahead of the 2027 elections. Data from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) shows that only 7,048 new voters registered nationwide in the first week of the exercise, representing just 0.11% of the national goal. Additionally, only 259 voters transferred their registration while eight updated their details during the same period.
Elog’s analysis highlighted a stark disparity in registration across counties. Nairobi led the way with 1,597 new voters, followed by Mombasa (556), Kiambu (386), and Kisii (312), while counties like Lamu (17), Samburu (18), Tana River (21), and Nyamira (10) recorded extremely low numbers. The group urged the IEBC to intensify civic engagement, particularly in remote regions, through mobile registration units, targeted awareness campaigns, and partnerships with tertiary institutions and community organizations. Elog emphasized that one-size-fits-all approaches would not ensure equitable voter participation, especially among first-time voters and underrepresented groups.
IEBC has responded by enhancing its technology, including integrating a new Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) module into the KIEMS system and gazetting 24,128 registration centers to improve accessibility and security. Chairperson Erastus Ethokon appealed to young Kenyans, who constitute over 75% of the population, to take advantage of the ongoing registration, noting that enrolling now ensures their voice in the next electoral cycle. Elog called for weekly progress updates from IEBC to improve transparency, build public trust, and guarantee that registration targets are met before the 2027 elections.