Introduction

NAIROBI, KENYA – In a strategic move to counter lagging voter registration numbers, Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is set to roll out a digital, mobile-based system allowing citizens to pre-register to vote using their phones, Commissioner Anne Nderitu announced on Thursday, November 13, 2025. This initiative is part of a wider technological and operational overhaul aimed at enfranchising millions of new voters, particularly the youth, ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The announcement comes as the commission grapples with extremely low turnout in its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) drive, which resumed on Monday, September 29, 2025, after a two-year hiatus. As of early November, only about 100,000 new voters had been enlisted, a fraction of the commission's target of 6.8 million. IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon has acknowledged the disappointing figures, attributing them to logistical hurdles, including the limitation of registration to constituency offices and delays in the issuance of National Identity Cards.

A Hybrid Approach to Digital Enrolment

The proposed mobile system will allow Kenyans to enter their personal information remotely, streamlining the initial steps of the registration process. However, the final and most critical stage—the capture of biometric data—will still require a physical visit to an IEBC registration centre. According to Commissioner Nderitu, this hybrid model is designed to enhance convenience while maintaining the integrity of the voter roll. After submitting their details online, applicants will schedule an appointment to have their fingerprints, facial image, and, for the first time, iris data captured.

This digital pre-registration is part of a significant upgrade to the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS). The new Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) module now includes automatic scanning of ID cards to auto-populate fields and reduce data entry errors, a key challenge in past exercises. The inclusion of iris scanning adds a robust layer of identification, as iris patterns are less susceptible to change over time compared to fingerprints.

Context: Tackling Apathy Ahead of 2027

The push for technological solutions is a direct response to the persistent challenge of voter apathy. The IEBC aims to expand the voter register from 22.1 million in 2022 to a projected 28.5 million by 2027. This requires registering a majority of the estimated 7.8 million eligible but unregistered citizens, a demographic dominated by youth under the age of 27. Analysts and civil society groups have argued that the traditional, manual-heavy registration process is outdated and discourages participation from a digitally-native generation accustomed to services on demand.

To accelerate enrolment, the IEBC plans to launch an Enhanced Voter Registration (EVR) drive after the conclusion of by-elections on November 27, 2025. This mass registration phase will see officials deployed to all 1,450 wards and Huduma Centres, significantly expanding access beyond the current 290 constituency offices.

Historical Precedent and Lingering Concerns

Kenya's adoption of electoral technology dates back to the period following the contentious 2007 election, with biometric registration systems in place since 2013. While technology has been credited with cleaning up the voter roll and increasing transparency, its implementation has not been without controversy. The widespread failure of electronic systems in 2013 and legal challenges surrounding results transmission in 2017 have fostered a degree of public mistrust. Consequently, debates persist over the reliability of a fully digital system, with stakeholders often calling for manual backups to prevent disenfranchisement in case of technological failure.

In preparation for 2027, the IEBC has budgeted KSh 61.7 billion for the entire election cycle, with KSh 8 billion earmarked for voter registration and KSh 7 billion for replacing outdated KIEMS kits. The commission has actively engaged with civil society organizations under the Uchaguzi Platform to build consensus and restore public confidence. These groups have pledged support while emphasizing the need for transparency and robust safeguards against data breaches and system manipulation, in line with Kenya's Data Protection Act.

As the IEBC prepares to deploy these new systems, its success will be measured not only by the number of new voters registered but also by its ability to build a secure, transparent, and trusted electoral framework for 2027.