IEBC restores voter verification portal after days-long outage

The commission announced on Sunday that the portal is now back online, following a period of system maintenance aimed at migrating its infrastructure to enhance performance and security.

The announcement follows days of uncertainty during which Kenyans were unable to confirm their registration details either via the IEBC web portal or the SMS platform, which requires voters to send their ID or passport number along with their year of birth to 70000. 

Both verification channels were inaccessible during the maintenance window, prompting growing anxiety, particularly as political momentum builds toward the 2027 General Election.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the electoral body sought to reassure voters, saying, “We wish to assure all Kenyans that the registration details of the 22,120,458 registered voters, as recorded during the 2022 General Election, remain intact and secure.

” The IEBC added that the system upgrade was necessary to bolster service delivery through improved system performance and data security.

However, the lack of clarity and communication during the downtime triggered public concern and scrutiny. The commission failed to disclose when the maintenance began, how long it would last, or the specific nature of the system upgrades.

Its initial statement merely noted, “We will promptly communicate once the system is fully operational and ready for verification of voter details,” without providing a concrete timeline.

The abrupt unavailability of the verification tools—especially in a country with a history of contested elections and concerns around electoral transparency—sparked fresh debate on the commission’s preparedness and openness ahead of 2027. 

The IEBC’s eventual confirmation that the portal had been restored came as a relief, but questions linger over the commission’s communication protocols and its ability to proactively manage critical public systems.

While the voter verification platform is now functional, observers and civil society groups are urging the IEBC to adopt greater transparency when managing sensitive digital infrastructure. As the electoral calendar inches forward, the commission remains under pressure to demonstrate institutional reliability and restore public confidence in its handling of electoral processes.

The voter verification tool plays a vital role in ensuring accurate electoral rolls and empowering citizens to participate in the democratic process.

With more than 22 million registered voters and rising political stakes, the IEBC’s operational efficiency and communication strategies will likely remain in the spotlight in the lead-up to 2027.