NAIROBI, Kenya – Opposition leader Raila Odinga has unveiled a bold seven-point electoral reform blueprint aimed at transforming Kenya’s electoral landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement shared on Monday, Odinga outlined a series of proposals he believes are critical to restoring public trust in elections, cutting costs, and ending widespread malpractice.
Among his most notable suggestions is the replacement of voter cards with national ID cards to simplify the registration and voting process.
According to the ODM leader, this would not only improve accessibility but also expand voter participation by removing unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.
“Our systems should trust Kenyans enough to allow them to vote using their ID cards. It’s time we stopped overcomplicating democracy,” Odinga said.
He also called for a comprehensive update of the national voter register to include more eligible citizens, and the adoption of artificial intelligence to manage electoral boundaries and streamline voter data.
“These tools can help define electoral boundaries more objectively and manage voter information more securely,” he added.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has proposed a seven-step strategy to reform Kenya’s electoral process. His plan includes allowing citizens to vote using national ID cards instead of separate voter cards and expanding the voter register to include more eligible Kenyans. He
Odinga further proposed holding presidential, parliamentary, and county elections at different times—a significant departure from Kenya’s current practice of conducting all elections on a single day.
He argues that separating them would ease logistical pressure, reduce electoral violence, and allow voters to make more informed choices.
To curb ballooning electoral budgets, Odinga advocated for digitising and simplifying electoral procedures to eliminate unnecessary spending.
“Kenya’s elections are among the most expensive in the world. We must cut costs without compromising credibility,” he said.
He emphasized the need for professional, transparent election management to rebuild public confidence in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), whose credibility has come under scrutiny in recent years.
Finally, Odinga issued a firm call to end electoral malpractice across the board—from local races to presidential contests.
“We must root out rigging and impunity at every level of the electoral system. It is the only way to preserve democracy,” he said.
The proposals mark Raila Odinga’s latest political maneuver as the 2027 campaign season begins to take shape.
While he has not formally declared his candidacy, the reform agenda is widely seen as part of broader preparations to challenge the Ruto administration at the ballot once again.
