By KPC Reporter
Over 2.6 million new voters have been added to Kenya’s Register following the conclusion of the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) Phase 1.
The exercise was conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) between 30th March and 28th April 2026.
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Of the 2,612,725, a total of 2,345,476 were registered during the ECVR exercise, while 267,249 were captured under Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) at IEBC offices since September 2025.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon described the exercise as a milestone achievement.
“The ECVR approach delivered higher absolute numbers and significantly improved conversion rates relative to targets, underscoring its effectiveness as a scalable, responsive voter registration model,” he said.
The Commission highlighted that weekly registration consistently surpassed 500,000 after the first week, more than doubling efficiency compared to earlier drives.
In 2016, Phase I of mass registration enlisted 1.45 million voters, while the 2021 cycle recorded 1.5 million.
Several innovations drove the success, including the “Open Kit” strategy, which allowed Kenyans to register at any centre regardless of origin, expansion of registration points to universities, Huduma Centres and IEBC offices, and adoption of data-driven planning with real-time monitoring.
Enhanced stakeholder engagement with government, civil society, and youth networks also boosted participation, particularly among first-time voters.
Despite the gains, challenges persisted. Regional disparities in registration outcomes, logistical hurdles in remote areas, localized security concerns, and the spread of mis/disinformation constrained operations.
Environmental factors such as flooding and drought also disrupted schedules in arid regions.
The Commission paid tribute to citizens who braved difficult conditions to register, highlighting youth mobilizers, elderly citizens, pastoralist communities, women’s groups, and persons with disabilities.
“You did not just do a job; you executed a heroic mission. Your sacrifice is the bedrock upon which the 2027 General Election will stand,” the statement read.
Looking ahead, IEBC confirmed that Continuous Voter Registration will continue at Huduma Centres, constituency offices, and the Customer Experience Centre in Nairobi.
Voters are urged to verify their details via verify.iebc.or.ke as the Commission undertakes biometric de-duplication, audits, and final certification of the Register.
“The gains realized and challenges overcome during the ECVR exercise provide a strong foundation for enhancing confidence, integrity and inclusiveness of the Register of Voters,” Ethekon concluded.
