NAIROBI, Kenya — The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has officially announced the launch of a high-intensity Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise. Starting Monday, March 30, 2026, the Commission will move beyond its constituency offices to bring registration services directly to the doorsteps of Kenyans.
This new phase follows a steady climb in numbers during the initial months of the year, which saw 277,903 new voters successfully added to the national register. However, with a grand target of 28.5 million voters for the 2027 General Election, Chairperson Erastus Ethekon says it is time for a “proactive model.”
1. The “Phase One” Goal: 2.5 Million in 30 Days
The primary objective of this 30-day blitz is to register 2.5 million new voters. The IEBC is specifically targeting the millions of young Kenyans who have attained the age of 18 since the last major registration cycle.
“Our responsibility is to make this exercise practical and accessible to all,” Chairperson Ethekon stated during a planning meeting this week. “We are shifting from a passive model to a proactive one, traveling village to village to ensure every eligible citizen is counted.”
2. Decentralization and “Mobile” Units
To solve the problem of low turnout in remote and marginalized areas, the IEBC is deploying:
Temporary Registration Clerks: Thousands of clerks have been recruited to facilitate the ward-level rollout.
Mobile Units: Registration kits will be rotated across villages and sub-locations to reach those who cannot travel to constituency headquarters.
Huduma Centres: 57 Huduma Centres across the country remain active hubs for those in urban areas.
3. Upgraded Tech: The KIEMS Integration
The Commission has integrated a new Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) module into the existing KIEMS kits. This upgrade is designed to:
Ensure faster data capture and synchronization.
Reduce “biometric capture quality” issues that plagued previous cycles.
Provide real-time data transmission even in areas with low connectivity.
4. How to Register
If you are an eligible Kenyan who is not yet registered, here is what you need to know:
Requirements: You must present your original National ID card or a valid Kenyan Passport.
Acknowledgement: Once registered, you will receive a registration acknowledgement slip (note: this slip is for your records and is not required for voting on election day).
Cost: Registration is a free constitutional right.
The Bottom Line
With the ECVR drive set to run until late April, the IEBC is calling on civil society, media, and social media influencers to help mobilize the youth. As Commissioner Dr. Ann Nderitu noted, “The credibility of the 2027 process depends on the register we build today.”
