The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has intensified voter registration efforts in western Kenya, rolling out a door-to-door campaign in Migori County while targeting hundreds of thousands of unregistered youths in Kakamega County ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In Migori, the commission is targeting 65,000 new voters through a month-long exercise, with County Election Manager Ben Moseti saying the grassroots approach is key to boosting numbers.
“We have been persuading people to register as voters,” he said.
Moseti noted that three Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (KIEMS) kits have been deployed in each constituency to speed up the process. So far, 11,286 new voters have been registered.
“We are seeing progress,” he added.
The exercise also targets voters who registered before 2012 but were not captured in the electronic system, with IEBC requiring them to register afresh for inclusion in the biometric Register of Voters.
Meanwhile in Kakamega, IEBC is targeting 240,000 youths who already hold national identity cards but are yet to register as voters.
Kakamega IEBC Elections Manager Joseph Ayatta said the strategy focuses on unlocking this pool of eligible voters.
“We have about 240,000 youths with IDs in Kakamega, and we are targeting them in this ongoing voter registration exercise,” said Ayatta.
He said the commission is working with chiefs, their assistants, village elders and Nyumba Kumi structures to mobilise young people.
“We are using local structures and campaigns such as ‘Niko Kadi’ to encourage youths to take up this opportunity and register in large numbers,” he said.
Ayatta added that IEBC is open to partnerships to expand its reach.
“We are ready to work with anyone committed to ensuring more youths are registered as voters,” he said.
Currently, Kakamega has 844,000 registered voters, with the commission targeting 1.08 million by 2027.
“Our target is informed by the number of eligible Kenyans who already have IDs but are yet to register,” Ayatta said.
National and local leaders have also stepped in to rally young voters.
Cyrrel Odede urged Migori youth to seize the opportunity.
“Youths are the future of the country, and by registering, you will have a say in electing leaders,” he said.
He added that the government will work with local administrators to distribute uncollected IDs through chiefs and assistant chiefs.
In Kakamega, Catholic bishop Joseph Obanyi governor Fernandes Barasa called on youths to register in large numbers.
“Young people have been at the forefront of advocating for governance reforms and human rights. They should now register to fully participate in shaping leadership,” said Obanyi.
Governor Barasa urged eligible residents to act promptly.
“I encourage those who have attained voting age but lack national identity cards to apply promptly and participate in the electoral process,” he said.
IEBC has also stationed registration teams at institutions including Rongo University, Kenya Medical Training College campuses and the Migori Huduma Centre to reach more young voters.
