Editor's Review

IEBC Commissioner Ann Nderitu has revealed that only 140,000 new voters have been registered by the commission so far. 

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioner Ann Nderitu has revealed that only 140,000 new voters have been registered by the commission.

Speaking on Thursday, November 20, Nderitu said the number of new voters remains far below the IEBC’s target of 6.8 million.

“We are at around 140,000. We are still not doing very well, given that we aim to achieve 6.8 million new voters,” she stated.

The IEBC commissioner attributed the low number of new voters to a last-minute culture among Kenyans.

“I don’t think it is the information that is not out there. There is a bad Kenyan culture of waiting until the last minute, you still think there is time, and because it is a continuous voter registration, you just wait,” Nderitu stated.

Read More

  1. Gov’t Put on the Spot Over Low Voter Registration Turnout
  2. IEBC Receives Ballot Papers Ahead of November 27 By-Elections
  3. IEBC Releases Voting Procedure for the November 27 By-Elections

File image of a voter registration process.

She also noted that some constituencies are vast and people have to travel long distances to the IEBC offices to register.

Nderitu said the commission will move the registration exercise to the grassroots after the November 27 by-election.

“In some areas, we understand we have to relink to the grassroots, which we shall be doing after the by-election, to reach where the people are. Some constituencies are vast. Currently, we are only registering at the constituency offices,” she added.

On November 2, 2025, IEBC announced that 90,020 new voters had been registered since the continuous voter registration exercise began.

IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon noted that 15,619 individuals transferred their registration to different polling stations, and 188 updated their voter details.

“As of October 31, 2025, the cumulative progress of the ongoing CVR exercise is as follows: Newly registered voters: 90,020; Transfers: 15,619; Updates: 188," Ethekon stated.

The IEBC Commissioner called on Kenyans to continue to take advantage of the opportunity and register as voters.

He also asked key institutions to play an active role in mobilising registration efforts across the country.

"The Commission urges all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society, faith-based organisations, and the media, to support this national exercise by encouraging eligible citizens to register, verify their details, or transfer to their preferred polling stations," Ethekon added.