An Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission official registers Hilda Jepkemboi as a voter at Kipkenyo in Kapseret constituency, Uasin Gishu County, on February 6, 2022.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's (IEBC) Continuous Voter registration, which promises to reshape the 2027 general election landscape, begins on Monday, September 29, 2025, with key political players targeting the youth.
The IEBC has announced that the long-awaited, ambitious exercise, which aims to register at least 6.3 million new voters (mainly young people), will begin on Monday.
"The IEBC has set a target to register 6.3 million new voters, adding to the current 22.1 million registered voters, in readiness for the 2027 General Election during the Continuous Voter Registration exercise,” revealed Chairperson Erastus Ethekon.
However, Mr Ethekon clarified that the registration drive will be conducted across the country, except for areas currently with by-elections.
A total of 24 pending by-elections are scheduled to be held on November 27, 2025.
The exercise comes as the battle for the 2027 General Election is increasingly shifting to first-time voters, who form the core target of the electoral agency’s continuous voter registration drive.
On Friday, opposition politicians attending PLP leader Martha Karua’s National Delegates Conference urged Gen Zs to register in large numbers to kick out President William Ruto.
“Saying ‘one term’ alone is not enough. Getting out, getting IDs, registering as voters beginning 29th, Monday, is the only way we are going to make ‘one term’ a reality. Are you ready?” Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K) Party leader Eugene Wamalwa asked the gathering.
He added, “The 29th of this month will be a very important day. I see very many Gen Zs in this hall. You have a date with destiny on the 29th.”
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua noted, “Please get IDs and get registered as voters. What you are doing on the smartphone is very good and we applaud you and we really are very happy, by enlightening Kenyans on what is going on. But the true and real transformation of this country will happen at the ballot box. You must have the tool of change. The tool of change is the vote. So, much as you are passionate on the smartphone, you must go to the next level and register as voters and help restore this country. You owe it to this country, Gen Zs, and you must understand you are the greatest shareholders in this country, and stakeholders because you have longer to live than all of us.”
Former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka, the leader of Wiper Patriotic Front, also mentioned September 29 in his speech.
“If you don’t have an ID, get one. Let the Registrar of Persons be the first to ensure that those who reach 18 get IDs unconditionally. Then you can register as voters,” he said.
Political pundits say the youth, mainly the Gen Z, will have a bigger say in the 2027 General Election if they register in large numbers.
According to political observers, if the youth, Gen Z in particular, show up in large numbers to register as voters and actually vote on Election Day, they could be the most disruptive force in Kenya's history and determine who takes power after the 2027 General Election.
"If they actually acquire voters’ cards from Monday and vote en mass in the 2027 polls, their numbers will definitely shape Kenya's political landscape in 2027 and mainly determine who becomes President," Prof Tom Nyamache, Turkana University don and political analyst, told the Nation.
"For the first time in decades, an election may be won not through tribal numbers but through a generational uprising at the ballot,” added Prof Nyamache.
In the past two years, the Gen Z have been on the streets demanding lower cost of living, job opportunities, as well as an end to over-taxation and police brutality.
But Kenya's Gen Z voice, may now be required to shift from protests to politics, with their numbers expected to shake the foundation of the country's traditional electoral system.
An analysis of the 2019 census shows that there are 17.8 million Kenyans aged between 18 and 34 years.
The Gen Z youth eligible to vote in the 2027 polls are 14 million. In the last election, held in 2022, the IEBC registered 22.1million voters.
However, out of the 22.1 million voters, only 14.3 million voted.
A staggering 7.8 million voters, mostly youth, did not vote, something that was cited by political analysts as a major source of voter apathy.
The election was decided by just 200,000 votes, with President William Ruto garnering 7,176,141votes and his closest opponent, then Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, getting 6,942,930 votes.
The IEBC's Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, will now open another window for eligible Kenyans to either register as new voters or update their details in readiness for the 2027 general election.
"Services on offer during the CVR exercise include fresh voter registration, correction or updating of voter details, transfer of registration to a different electoral area, and verification of voter information,” read a statement by the IEBC to newsrooms.
Citizens can also verify their details online through the IEBC portal.
To achieve the ambitious target, the commission says it will deploy a multi-pronged strategy, including: continuous voter registration at IEBC Constituency offices, collaborations with Huduma Centres and enhanced ward-based registration drives.
To be eligible to register as a voter, one must be a Kenyan citizen aged 18 years and above, in possession of a valid national Identity Card or passport, and not previously registered as a voter.
However, individuals who have been convicted of an election offence within the past five years or declared to be of unsound mind are not allowed to register.
The IEBC has urged Kenyans who have recently attained the voting age to take full advantage of the opportunity, noting that participation in elections begins with registration.
The exercise will be conducted Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.
Those who have changed their place of residence or wish to transfer their polling station are also encouraged to act early to avoid last-minute rushes when major voter listing drives are announced.
"A credible register is central to free and fair elections, and that every citizen’s participation strengthens democracy,” said Mr Ethekon, while appearing before a parliamentary committee last week.
While appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC), on September 25, Mr Ethekon assured lawmakers that his team is fully prepared to resume the continuous voter registration, in accordance with Article 88(4)(a) of the Constitution, which mandates the IEBC to continuously register citizens as voters.
While the commission is making strides to reach the diaspora, it clarified that only passports will be accepted for voter registration and participation—except for East African-based Kenyans, who may use national IDs.
The revelation sparked concern among lawmakers, who questioned the rationale of excluding national IDs, given that passports expire while ID cards do not.
Legislators also observed that many Kenyans abroad may be undocumented, but insisted that their citizenship rights remain intact.
At the same time, the National Assembly Committee called on all eligible Kenyans who are yet to register as voters to take full advantage of the continuous voter registration exercise.
"This is a defining moment for the youth of Kenya. If you want change, you must be part of the process. Register and be counted. I urge the Gen Z to show up in large numbers and prepare to use their voice to shape the future of the country,” Mr Omondi urged.
Already, both opposition and leaders allied to President William Ruto have kicked off a campaign to urge the youth to turn up in large numbers from Monday to register as voters.
