Kenyans who registered as voters before 2012 will be required to register afresh, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced, as the country ramps up preparations for the 2027 General Election.
In a statement issued on April 2, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon clarified that only voters captured under the current biometric system – introduced in 2012 – are recognised in the official Register of Voters (RoV).
“Individuals who had previously enrolled as voters before 2012 are not part of the current biometric register unless they subsequently presented themselves for fresh registration,” he said, adding that such individuals must now re-register to be included.
Push for a Clean, Biometric Register
The directive comes as the Commission continues with its nationwide Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise, which began on March 30 and will run for 30 days.
The current biometric system was adopted following sweeping electoral reforms tied to the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the Elections Act, aimed at improving transparency and credibility in the voting process.
Registration is ongoing across all 1,450 County Assembly Wards, as well as in universities, Huduma Centres, constituency offices, and the IEBC headquarters at Anniversary Towers.
Early Numbers and Ambitious Targets
So far, the Commission reports steady progress. As of April 2:
- 344,316 new voters have been registered
- 18,610 transfers processed
- 329 voter detail updates recorded
The IEBC is targeting at least 2.5 million new voters ahead of the 2027 polls.
The current exercise builds on an earlier registration drive in September 2025, which recorded over 273,000 new voters.
Deadline Fast Approaching
With only weeks remaining, the Commission has urged Kenyans not to wait until the last minute. The exercise will close on April 28, with no extension planned.
“Only 25 days remain… the time to register is now,” Ethekon said, emphasizing that registration is being conducted daily, including weekends and public holidays.
He also reiterated that voters seeking transfers must physically present themselves in their new constituencies and submit fresh biometric data—a move aimed at curbing irregular or unauthorized mass transfers.
Youth-Led ‘Niko Kadi’ Movement Gains Traction
The voter registration push is unfolding alongside a growing youth-led civic movement dubbed “Niko Kadi” (or #TukoKadi), which is mobilising young people across the country to register in large numbers.
Launched in early 2026, the campaign—whose name translates to “I have a card”—encourages Gen Z voters to secure their voter cards and actively participate in shaping the country’s political future.
The movement builds on the momentum of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests, where thousands of young Kenyans took to the streets to demand economic and governance reforms. Now, the focus has shifted from protest to participation.
Organisers say the goal is to convert that energy into tangible electoral influence in 2027, with young voters aiming to leverage their numbers to demand accountability from leadership.
A Call to Civic Duty
IEBC has particularly urged first-time voters and young Kenyans to take advantage of the ongoing exercise, framing voter registration as both a right and a responsibility.
“Our primary mission during this window is simple—‘kuwakatia KADI’,” Ethekon said, stressing that the voter’s card represents more than just registration, but a commitment to democratic participation and accountability.
As the countdown to the deadline continues, the convergence of institutional efforts and grassroots mobilisation signals a potentially transformative voter turnout in the next general election.
