Something interesting happened after the 2022 general elections. Voter registration was stopped for a while. I say interesting because in Kenya, the law stipulates that voter registration be a continuous process. For the past three years, Kenyans have been waiting for IEBC to reopen continuous voter registration. Was it even legal to suspend such a constitutional right?
Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) is guaranteed under Article 88(4) of the Constitution. After the 2022 election, IEBC claimed pending legal reforms and logistical hurdles. They admitted to experiencing staffing gaps. Without gazetted registration officers and fully tested KIEMS kits (biometric equipment), the commission could not lawfully proceed. To put it simply, the suspension might have appeared unusual to most people, but it was not unlawful. The same law that demands for continuous voter registrations also allows IEBC to halt registration (temporarily) for specific reasons, provided it resumes in good time before the next general election.
Nevertheless, the announcement was made and the voter registration process officially resumed on 26th August, 2025. It is now every eligible Kenyan’s duty to make sure their name is on the roll.
The timing aligns with the commission’s constitutional duty to prepare the voter register early, well ahead of the 2027 polls. But in reality, we have a lot of catching up to do – 3 years to be exact. That is a long time, as everyone who turned 18 years since then has not been registered. Finally, young Kenyans who turned 18 after 2022, as well as those who missed out in previous drives, can register and participate in one of democracies biggest landmarks.
Who Is Eligible to Register
To officially become a voter, you must:
- Be a Kenyan citizen.
- Be 18 years or older.
- Hold a valid national ID card or Kenyan passport.
- Not be registered elsewhere or convicted of an election offence within the last five years.
- Not have been declared to be of unsound mind by a court.
It is important to note that if you want to update your details, or wish to transfer to a different polling station, you have to do the process afresh. Please do not be left out or forget to do so.
However, even though voter registration is finally open again, I feel it is important to remind Kenyans that By law, IEBC must close the voter register 60 days before a General Election because the list has to be verified and published for everyone to confirm. This is to avoid last-minute confusion or disputes. Do not wait too long, lest you miss your chance.
Another important information you should be aware of is that If your area is holding a by-election IEBC will temporarily suspend registration there to prevent interference with the smaller election already taking place, until the by-election is over.
For now, the resumed process covers Kenyans inside the country. If you’re outside Kenya, you may have to wait for a separate announcement.
After registering, IEBC gives you an acknowledgement slip. Many Kenyans mistakenly think this is what they’ll use to vote. It isn’t. On election day, you must present your original ID card or passport.
How to Register
Visit your constituency IEBC office or a designated registration centre. Make sure you have your original ID or valid passport with you (no waiting cards or photocopies, or even the ID photo on your phone). You will then be required to fill in the appropriate statutory form. If it is a new registration, you will fill in Form A, Form B for corrections and Form C if you plan on transferring to a new polling station.
You will then provide biometric details (fingerprints and photo), after which you shall receive an acknowledgement slip. (reminder once again, that this slip is not used for voting and you’ll still need your ID or passport on election day.)
Mobile registration teams will also be dispatched to reach marginalised remote areas.
All this is indeed good news, but there are still hurdles that could keep Kenyans from registering or even trusting the system altogether.
If we are even being honest, how many Kenyans even know that registration is back? Where is the aggressive outreach that is expected of such news? The lukewarm announcement means there is a probability some people will miss out as the silence plays into voter apathy.
Hopefully, this process will be accessible to every single Kenyan. Those in urban places might find it easier to get to a constituency office but what about Kenyans in remote areas, or those who can’t afford frequent travel? And even though mobile registration teams are planned, will they reach every corner? That’s a big question.
And let us not even get started on the frustration that comes with queuing for hours at a government office only for “the system” to go down. If KIEMS kits fail, data is lost or if servers crash (even the word server is traumatic to most of us kenyans), people will lose trust and some may walk away without registering.
What about the body IEBC itself? The commission’s credibility is at an all time low.. How do you show up with an ID to vote while deep down you know your vote will not even count? If IEBC doesn’t build confidence through transparency……so many voters may decide to stay away. And that is our biggest nightmare as kenyans right now.
We’ve seen it before. Kenyans wait until the very last days to crowd registration centres in long queues. And then some will be turned away when the legal deadline closes. Let us all try and avoid the crazy last minute rush this time around.
Any country’s democracy is only as strong as the people who show up. Young people are the first to complain about corruption, unemployment and poor leadership. And honestly, never have the voices been as strong as they have been for the last couple of years with these Genz. It is now time for them, and the rest of the country of course, to put their money where their mouths are. Do not be loud on the streets only to ignore voter registration.
What would be the point really? If your name is not on that registration list, you don’t have a voice when it matters most. And if you don’t have a voice simply because you never registered, are you really a true patriot?
What You Should Do Today
- Check your status. And if you were already registered, confirm your details.
- Register now. Don’t wait until the last-minute rush.
- Tell a friend. Tell more friends. Heck, tell the neighbour you rarely talk to. Shout it to all and sundry. Many Kenyans don’t even know voter registration has resumed. Share the news in your WhatsApp groups, at work and even in your chama. Remind the whole estate via that estate whatsapp group that is only good for gossiping.
In conclusion, this isn’t just about politicians. It is about you, everything that concerns you and the future you want.
Whatever your decision, it starts with voter registration.
Change starts with you.
