IEBC to launch digital voter registration platform targeting Kenyan youth

During a prayer breakfast meeting on Wednesday, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon noted that the platform will allow registering voters to fill out their documents and will only avail themselves to any registration center to key in their biometric details. 

"We are introducing a digital platform where you have a link, a pre-registration form, you can fill all you details and all you need to do is walk into the nearest Huduma or registration center and give your fingerprints," he said.

The IEBC chairperson added that the roadmap to the 2027 General Election is on course and voter registration is one of the Commission's key agendas to ensure there are more registered voters during the polls.

The Commission targets to register 6.3 million new voters — those who have attained the age of 18 and non-registered persons — as well as facilitating voters who wish to transfer their registration details to different polling stations.

He said that the first phase, which has recorded a turnout of about 200,000 new voters, will not deter IEBC from seeking more new voters as a plan to heighten mobilization in the grassroot levels is underway.

"We are not worried because of the low numbers. Continuous voter registration is based at the constituency level. Our plan is to roll out a mass voter registration in March and through that we will set up registration centres in every village," he added.

He asserted that the Commission is committed to ensure that voter registration meets the integrity threshold and will create a voter roll that reflects true figures of actual eligible voters.

He has urged the clergy, media and stakeholders to contribute in "making 2027 the best election in the history of Kenya".

Ethekon however highlighted the persistent impediments the Commission is facing, warning that they might cripple the ambition to achieve a seamless electoral process.

He noted, for example, that strained budgets will not allow the electoral body to efficiently undertake its mobilization target.

"Without these budgets we will be incapacitated to reach out to these young people, vulnerable persons and places without the digital media," he stated.

Other challenges include unmet legal reforms, like the 2/3 gender rule, urging political leaders to encourage more women to throw their hats in the political ring to bridge the gap.

In November last year, Ethekon said that the commission had requested Ksh. 61.7 billion from Parliament for elections, but it was reduced to Ksh.57.3 billion, a cut he cautioned could hinder the IEBC’s ability to effectively oversee the elections.

He said that the reduced budget will force the commission to scale down personnel at polling stations and at the national tallying centre, a move that could disrupt the overall election process.  

Currently, the Commission has 22.1 million registered voters and expects to have 28.4 million voters by the 2027 General Elections.