NAIROBI, Kenya – The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will announce the timelines for the resumption of continuous voter registration next month, Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon has confirmed.
Speaking during a media briefing on Saturday, Ethekon said the Commission is finalising internal processes and will issue a gazette notice in August 2025 to formally kickstart the long-awaited exercise.
“For the past two years, we have taken note of the sustained demand, particularly from Kenya’s youth and the political class, on the resumption of voter registration and updating of the register,” Ethekon said.
He noted that the calls reflect increased civic interest among young Kenyans, adding that voter registration is now a top priority for the Commission as it prepares for the 2027 general election.
Legal Delays and Renewed Momentum
Ethekon explained that while groundwork had been underway, the IEBC could not proceed with the exercise until the Commission was fully reconstituted, in line with legal requirements.
“The law requires such decisions to be made by a fully constituted Commission, which is now in place,” he said.
The previous continuous registration was suspended ahead of the 2022 general election through a gazette notice, to allow for compilation and certification of the voter roll.
Since then, the process has remained in limbo due to leadership gaps at the Commission.
With a new team now fully in office, the IEBC says it is ready to resume its constitutional mandate under Article 88, which obligates it to ensure continuous voter registration and regular revision of the voters’ register.
A Call for Civic Engagement
Ethekon stressed that a credible and inclusive register is foundational to free and fair elections.
“A clean and inclusive register is not merely administrative. It is the foundation of free, fair and transparent elections,” he said.
He urged all stakeholders — from civil society to political players — to support and engage with the process once it begins.
The IEBC chair also committed to transparency and timely communication, saying the final plan will be publicised through official channels and the media once approved and gazetted.
“The Commission encourages continued civic engagement, and we pledge to keep all stakeholders informed as these developments unfold,” Ethekon said.
The move is expected to unlock participation for millions of new voters, especially young people who were either underage in 2022 or missed previous registration drives.
