NAIROBI - The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has issued a stern warning to Kenyan citizens against attempting to register as voters more than once, highlighting the severe legal consequences of such actions as the nation prepares for upcoming by-elections and the 2027 General Election. The offence of double registration, the commission stated on Thursday, November 20, 2025, undermines the credibility of the electoral process and is punishable by significant fines and imprisonment.

Under the Election Offences Act, 2016, any person who registers as a voter more than once commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one million shillings, a prison term of up to one year, or both. Furthermore, individuals found guilty of this offence can be barred from participating in the immediate and subsequent elections. The same penalties apply to any IEBC official or person who aids in the commission of the offence.

Advanced Technology to Curb Fraud

The IEBC has expressed confidence in its technological infrastructure to detect and flag any attempts at multiple registrations instantly. The Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS) kits are equipped with biometric technology, including fingerprint and newly introduced iris recognition, to ensure each voter is uniquely identified. “Our system will definitely flag out a person who attempts to register as a voter more than once,” the commission affirmed in a public statement. This technological enhancement is a significant step from previous systems and is designed to prevent impersonation and other forms of voter fraud that have been a concern in past electoral cycles.

Low Turnout in Continuous Voter Registration

The warning comes amidst a Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise that began on Monday, September 29, 2025, and has so far recorded a low turnout. As of November 20, 2025, IEBC Commissioner Ann Nderitu reported that only 140,000 new voters had been enlisted, a small fraction of the commission's target of 6.8 million. Earlier, on October 31, 2025, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon stated that 90,020 new voters had registered since the exercise began. The CVR exercise allows eligible citizens to register, transfer their registration, or update their details at any IEBC Constituency Office, except in the 24 electoral areas scheduled to hold by-elections on November 27, 2025.

The low registration numbers, particularly among the youth who constitute a large portion of the targeted new voters, have raised concerns among stakeholders about voter apathy. The IEBC has called on eligible citizens, especially young people who have recently attained the age of 18, to take advantage of the ongoing opportunity to register.

Historical Context and Electoral Integrity

Kenya has a history of challenges related to the voter register, including instances of multiple registrations and the presence of deceased voters on the roll, which have fueled disputes in past elections. In 2022, a cleanup of the voter register led to the removal of 480,000 cases of multiple registration. The introduction of biometric technology, including the BVR system, was a direct response to the recommendations of the 2008 Independent Review Commission (Kriegler Commission) to create a reliable and verifiable voter list.

Chairperson Ethekon has recently emphasized the need for stricter penalties for all types of electoral offences to safeguard the integrity of the process. The commission is also engaging with international partners like the United Nations to bolster its preparedness for the 2027 elections, focusing on areas such as countering digital threats like misinformation and disinformation. The IEBC maintains that ensuring a clean and credible voter register is a foundational step towards conducting free, fair, and transparent elections, and it has urged the public to refrain from spreading incorrect information that could undermine the registration process.