NAIROBI, Kenya — People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has questioned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s (IEBC) decision to conduct a month-long enhanced voter registration exercise specifically in Ol-Kalou Constituency.
Karua questioned why the enhanced exercise was not being conducted countrywide and asked the electoral commission to explain why Ol-Kalou had been singled out.
“Any reason why it cannot be countrywide and why specifically Olkalau? Is there some mischief here?” Karua wrote on X while tagging the IEBC.
Her remarks followed an IEBC notice announcing the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and commencement of Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) in Ol-Kalou from September 21 to October 20, 2026.
IEBC Gives Reason for Ol-Kalou Exercise
The IEBC said the enhanced registration exercise was being conducted following the recent Ol-Kalou by-election.
In its September 14 Gazette Notice, the commission said the exercise would provide eligible citizens in the constituency with an opportunity to register and update their voter information ahead of future electoral activities.
The notice was signed by IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon.
The exercise comes after voter registration in Ol-Kalou had been suspended following the death of former MP David Kiaraho, in line with electoral procedures applicable when a parliamentary seat falls vacant.
What Voters Can Do
The enhanced exercise will allow eligible Kenyan citizens aged 18 and above with a valid national identity card or Kenyan passport to:
- Register as new voters;
- Transfer voter registration to another electoral area;
- Update or correct voter registration details; and
- Verify their voter registration status.
The exercise will be conducted daily, from Monday to Sunday, during the one-month period.
Registration services will be available at County Assembly Ward level, the Ol-Kalou Constituency Office and other designated registration centres approved by the commission. Services will also be available at selected Huduma Centres, institutions of higher learning within the designated areas and the IEBC Customer Experience Centre at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi.
Registration Continues After October 20
The IEBC has clarified that voter registration in Ol-Kalou will not end when the enhanced exercise closes.
After October 20, ordinary Continuous Voter Registration and regular revision of the Register of Voters will resume at the Ol-Kalou Constituency Office.
The services will be available from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Voters seeking to transfer their registration must appear at the IEBC constituency office in their preferred electoral area, while those seeking to correct or update their details must appear at the constituency office where they are currently registered.
Karua Questions Selective Exercise
Karua’s intervention focuses on the decision to conduct an enhanced exercise in one constituency rather than across the country.
The IEBC, however, has specifically linked the Ol-Kalou exercise to the conduct of the by-election there.
The commission’s wider voter-registration programme is not limited to Ol-Kalou. Its 2025–2027 Election Operation Plan provides for Continuous Voter Registration as well as additional phases of Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The IEBC has also previously conducted enhanced registration nationally. Commission data shows that its first 2026 ECVR phase, held from March 30 to April 28, registered more than 2.3 million voters under the enhanced programme, alongside voters registered through ordinary CVR.
Voter Registration Under Increased Political Scrutiny
The latest disagreement comes as voter registration and the integrity of the voters’ register have become increasingly prominent in political debate ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The IEBC has previously defended the deployment of voter-registration kits to strategic locations, saying CVR remains available at constituency offices, Huduma Centres and Anniversary Towers.
The commission has also urged political actors and the public to rely on official information concerning registration procedures.
IEBC Preparing for 2027 Polls
The Ol-Kalou exercise is part of the IEBC’s preparations for the August 10, 2027 General Election.
The commission has been updating the voters’ register, conducting voter education and setting out operational timelines for the next election.
For Ol-Kalou residents, the September 21–October 20 exercise will provide an additional opportunity to register, transfer or update their voter details.
Karua’s question, meanwhile, puts the constituency-specific nature of the enhanced exercise under political scrutiny, while the IEBC has cited the recent by-election as the reason for restarting and expanding registration services in Ol-Kalou.
