The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has officially announced a new voter registration exercise, giving millions of Kenyans another opportunity to enrol ahead of the highly anticipated 2027 General Elections.
In a statement released on Saturday, the commission confirmed that the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise will kick off on Monday, March 30, 2026, and run for 30 consecutive days until Tuesday, April 28.
Daily Registration Across the Country
Unlike previous voter registration drives, the upcoming exercise will be conducted daily from Monday to Sunday.
According to IEBC, this shift is aimed at increasing accessibility and ensuring that more eligible citizens are captured in the national voters’ register.
Kenyans will be able to register at all Huduma Centres nationwide, making the process more convenient and widespread.
Multiple Registration Points Introduced
To further expand reach, IEBC has designated several registration points across the country.
These include:
- County assembly wards (on a rotational basis guided by kit movement schedules)
- Universities and colleges within constituencies
- IEBC constituency offices
- The IEBC Customer Experience Centre at Anniversary Towers
This multi-location strategy is expected to significantly boost voter turnout, especially among young and first-time voters.
Areas Excluded from the Exercise
However, the commission clarified that the registration exercise will not take place in areas where by-elections are scheduled or where election petitions are still ongoing.
This is meant to maintain electoral integrity and avoid interference with active electoral processes.
Youth-Led ‘NikoKadi’ Momentum Grows
The announcement comes amid a surge in youth mobilisation under the NikoKadi initiative, which has seen increasing numbers of young Kenyans flock to registration centres.
The movement, largely driven by civic organizations and youth-led campaigns, is encouraging first-time voters to:
- Apply for national identity cards
- Register as voters
- Participate actively in the democratic process
This growing momentum signals a potentially significant youth influence in the 2027 elections.
Government Raises Concern Over Uncollected IDs
In a related development, Immigration Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has raised concerns over a large number of uncollected national identity cards.
Speaking on March 26, Kipsang revealed that approximately 460,000 ID cards remain uncollected across the country.
He noted that:
- Over 4.1 million IDs have been issued in the past two and a half years
- Nearly 1.6 million were processed in just the last six months
Despite these efforts, many Kenyans have yet to collect their IDs, which are essential for voter registration.
Women Lag Behind in ID Registration
Kipsang also highlighted a worrying trend where women—particularly in pastoralist regions such as Narok and Kajiado—are lagging behind in both ID application and collection.
In some cases, women as old as 80 years still lack national identification documents, effectively locking them out of voting and other essential services.
This gap has raised concerns about inclusivity and equal participation in the upcoming elections.
Why This Registration Exercise Matters
The 30-day voter registration drive is expected to play a crucial role in shaping Kenya’s electoral future.
With the 2027 General Elections approaching, the exercise provides:
- A chance for first-time voters to participate
- An opportunity for previously unregistered citizens to join the voters’ roll
- A platform to strengthen democratic engagement across the country
Conclusion
The IEBC’s rollout of the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration marks a significant step toward inclusive and accessible elections in Kenya.
With daily registration, multiple centres, and growing youth participation, the exercise could lead to a record number of new voters ahead of 2027.
However, challenges such as uncollected IDs and regional disparities must be addressed to ensure that no eligible Kenyan is left behind.