KENYA STARTS REGISTRATION OF NEW VOTERS AHEAD OF 2027 ELECTIONS. (PHOTO).

 Kenya starts registration of new voters ahead of 2027 elections

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has officially rolled out new voters' registration exercise across the country, setting in motion a critical step in preparations for the 2027 general election.

The IEBC has set an ambitious target of registering 6.3 million new eligible voters ahead of the polls, 70% of whom are expected to be youth.

The exercise, which began on Monday, targets Kenyans who are aged at least 18 years, or those seeking transfers and updates of their voter details, TRT Afrika reported.

The applicants are expected to visit IEBC constituency offices with either a national identity card or valid Kenyan passport.

New electoral commission settles in

IEBC officials have stressed the importance of voter registration in safeguarding the principle of sovereignty. “Sovereignty belongs to the people, and it begins with voter registration.

The exercise comes months after the swearing-in of a new team of commissioners in July 2025, following their gazettement by President William Ruto.

The fully constituted commission, chaired by Erastus Edung Ethekon, has pledged to deliver on its mandate in strict adherence to the law.

Other commissioners include Anne Njeri Nderitu, Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Prof. Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah.

Eligibility criteria

Services offered under the new national drive include voter registration, correction or update of details, transfer of registration to a new constituency, and verification of voter information.

The voter registration eligibility criteria also dictate that one should not have been convicted of an election offence in the last five years, and should not be of unsound mind.