The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has registered more than 1.8 million new voters in the ongoing Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise, as the country enters the final stretch of the drive ahead of its closure on Tuesday.
The exercise, which began on March 30, 2026, is part of preparations for the 2027 General Election and is being conducted under the theme “Deepening Democracy in Kenya Through Inclusive Voter Registration.”
According to the commission, a total of 1,876,274 new voters had been registered as of April 24, 2026, representing a steady increase in participation across the country.
IEBC said the figure includes thousands of young first-time voters, with officials attributing the surge to intensified mobilisation and expanded access through mobile registration kits deployed across wards, Huduma Centres, and constituency offices.
In earlier updates, the commission had reported 1.37 million registrations by mid-April, with nearly half a million added in just one week, signalling a sharp rise in turnout as the deadline approached.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said the exercise reflects growing civic awareness among Kenyans, particularly the youth.
“The numbers we are witnessing demonstrate a nation increasingly committed to shaping its democratic future,” he said in a recent update.
The commission also noted that voter transfers and updates of registration details have risen alongside new registrations, with thousands opting to change polling stations closer to their current residence.
However, IEBC warned that registration is suspended in areas with ongoing electoral disputes or by-elections, including parts of Narok, Nyandarua, Kakamega and Embu counties.
Political leaders have also weighed in on the exercise, urging Kenyans to turn out in large numbers before the deadline. Opposition and government-aligned leaders alike have framed voter registration as a key democratic duty ahead of the 2027 polls.
The commission reiterated that while the mass registration window closes on Tuesday, continuous voter registration will resume at IEBC constituency offices and Huduma Centres thereafter.
“Eligible citizens should take advantage of the remaining time to register,” the commission said, adding that no extensions will be granted.
The ECVR exercise, launched at a time of heightened political activity, has been described as one of the most significant voter mobilisation drives in recent years.
