The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced that it will resume Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in areas that recently held by-elections, saying the statutory petition period has now lapsed, clearing the way for fresh registrations.
In a statement shared on its official platforms, the Commission urged young Kenyans to take advantage of the opportunity and register at any IEBC constituency office. “Register today! Make your vote count as a youth,” the notice read, underscoring the commission’s renewed push to boost youth participation ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The resumption of voter registration follows by-elections held on November 27, where the IEBC had temporarily halted CVR in compliance with the law to allow room for election petitions. With the legal window now closed, the commission says it is ready to proceed.
The electoral body has been under pressure to ramp up nationwide voter registration amid concerns over declining turnout and youth disengagement. Past cycles have shown a significant gap between eligible and registered youth voters, raising fears that millions of young Kenyans could sit out future elections.
In recent months, the IEBC—still operating under an incomplete commission as the selection of new commissioners remains unresolved—has been running public awareness campaigns urging citizens to verify their details, reject misinformation and take part in democratic processes. The agency has used the hashtags #TalkwithIEBC, #StopFakeNews and #YourVoteYourFuture to target a digital-savvy audience.
Despite internal challenges, the Commission insists its preparations for upcoming polls remain on track. Officials say the revival of voter registration in the affected by-election regions marks a step toward rebuilding public confidence and ensuring no eligible voter is left behind.
The IEBC has not announced new nationwide registration drives but says the current CVR process remains open at all constituency offices.
