NAIROBI, Kenya — Justin Muturi has raised an alarm over possible manipulation of Kenya’s electoral register after a Mombasa resident reportedly discovered he had already been registered as a voter without his knowledge.
In a statement, Muturi cited the case of a man identified as Kioko who presented himself for voter registration in Mombasa but was informed that his details already existed in the system, allegedly dating back to 2013.
He described the incident as a warning sign of potential interference with the country’s electoral infrastructure.
“Identities do not duplicate themselves. Systems do not alter themselves. People do,” Muturi said, adding that the case raised “grave concerns” about possible manipulation of the voters’ roll.
He questioned how many similar entries might exist nationwide, warning that undetected anomalies could undermine confidence in the electoral process. Muturi argued that such incidents, if verified, risk subverting democratic systems through silent interference with voter data.
Muturi called on the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner to provide assurances that Kenyans’ personal and biometric data is secure and protected from misuse. He also demanded clarification over claims that sensitive biodata is stored in foreign jurisdictions, including Dubai, under private technology providers.
Muturi further called for an independent forensic audit of both the population register and the voters’ roll, saying transparency was essential to safeguard electoral credibility.
The remarks place renewed focus on institutions responsible for voter registration and data governance, including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, which manages the voters’ roll, and agencies responsible for national identity databases.
Kenya’s electoral register has historically attracted scrutiny, particularly during election cycles, with stakeholders often calling for audits to ensure accuracy and eliminate duplicate or ghost entries.
Electoral reforms following previous elections have included biometric registration and verification systems aimed at enhancing integrity.
Muturi said Kenyans must not “be reduced to mere spectators in the theft of their own democracy,” urging authorities to investigate the matter and hold those responsible accountable.
