The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has closed the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise, urging Kenyans to seize the final hours as officials pointed to steady — though uneven — turnout across the country.
While the commission had yet to release a final nationwide tally by the close of the exercise on Tuesday, officials indicated that hundreds of thousands of new voters had been registered, with the bulk comprising young, first-time applicants.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon said the exercise had demonstrated growing civic awareness, particularly among the youth.
“The numbers we are witnessing demonstrate a nation increasingly committed to shaping its democratic future,” he said in an earlier update.
The commission had set up registration centres nationwide and deployed mobile “open kits,” allowing Kenyans to register as voters in any polling station without travelling to their home counties — a move credited with boosting accessibility in urban areas.
Despite the progress, turnout varied sharply, with some rural regions reporting low numbers due to logistical challenges, while urban centres saw long queues, especially in the final days.
Political leaders and civil society groups had repeatedly called on eligible voters to register, warning that low participation could undermine representation. Some opposition figures criticised the short registration window, arguing it limited the number of new voters, while leaders allied to the government praised the process as efficient and inclusive.
IEBC officials maintained that the exercise met its objectives within available resources, noting that a comprehensive report, including final registration figures and demographic breakdowns, would be released in the coming days.
The close of the ECVR exercise now shifts attention to voter register verification and audit processes as the country prepares for future elections.
