The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced plans to roll out a mass voter registration drive across Kenya following the conclusion of by-elections scheduled for Thursday, November 27, 2025. The move is a direct response to the slow pace of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which has so far failed to meet expectations ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking at a youth engagement forum in Mombasa on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon expressed confidence in meeting the commission's ambitious target of registering 6.8 million new voters, despite the current low numbers. As of October 31, 2025, only 90,020 new voters had been registered since the CVR exercise began on Monday, September 29, 2025. This figure represents a small fraction of the target, raising concerns among electoral stakeholders about widespread voter apathy, particularly among the youth.

Addressing Low Turnout and Apathy

Mr. Ethekon attributed the slow registration pace primarily to logistical constraints, noting that the exercise is currently limited to the IEBC's constituency offices. This has created significant barriers to access for many potential voters, especially in rural and expansive constituencies where travel costs and time are prohibitive factors. "We are aware that registration was only taking place at constituency offices, limiting access to registration services," Ethekon stated, as reported on November 4, 2025.

To counter this, the IEBC plans to dramatically expand its footprint after the November 27 by-elections. The commission intends to deploy registration clerks to approximately 1,450 wards and establish up to 30,000 registration centres nationwide, including placing two clerks at every Huduma Centre to improve accessibility.

However, logistical hurdles are not the only challenge. Analysts and civil society groups point to a deeper issue of political disillusionment and voter apathy, especially among Kenya's youth, who constitute a significant portion of the unregistered population. Hussein Khalid, CEO of the human rights organization Vocal Africa, highlighted this during the Mombasa forum, stating that low registration is a "sign of voter apathy that was ailing Kenya as a democracy." This sentiment is echoed by reports indicating that many young Kenyans feel disconnected from the political process, viewing it as an "empty ritual" that fails to address pressing issues like unemployment and economic hardship. The 2022 General Election saw a voter turnout of around 65%, the lowest in 15 years, with a significant number of registered young voters staying away from the polls.

The Road to 2027

The CVR exercise, which resumed after a two-year suspension due to the absence of a fully constituted commission, is a critical component of the preparations for the 2027 elections. The IEBC aims to increase the number of registered voters from the 22.1 million recorded in 2022 to over 28 million. The upcoming by-elections on November 27 will be held in various constituencies and wards across the country to fill seats that have become vacant for reasons including death and resignation. The registration exercise is currently suspended in the 24 electoral areas where these by-elections are scheduled.

IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan has also identified delays in the issuance of national identity cards as another significant impediment to the registration process, as the ID is a mandatory document for registration. In response, the government recently announced a six-month waiver for ID registration and replacement fees to facilitate more Kenyans in obtaining the crucial document.

The success of the forthcoming mass registration drive will be pivotal for the IEBC. The Elections Observation Group (ELOG) raised an early alarm in October 2025, noting that in the first week of the CVR, only 7,048 new voters were registered, a figure representing just 0.11% of the national target. As political parties begin to strategize for 2027, the ability of the IEBC to effectively mobilize and register millions of new voters, particularly the youth, will be a defining factor in shaping the country's next electoral landscape.