IEBC warns against double registration as voter turnout remains low

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has warned Kenyans against any attempts to register more than once during the ongoing voter registration process, saying its systems are equipped to detect duplicate entries.

The commission said the offence will be flagged instantly and urged the public to refrain from sharing incorrect information.

“Double registration is an electoral offence. Our system will definitely flag out a person who attempts to register as a voter more than once. We urge members of the public to refrain from sharing incorrect information during the ongoing voter registration exercise,” the Commission said.

IEBC Commissioner Ann Nderitu said only 140,000 new voters have enlisted so far, a figure significantly below the commission’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 said on Thursday.

Nderitu attributed the low turnout partly to a culture of last-minute action 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,” she said.

She added that vast constituencies and long travel distances to IEBC offices have also affected the process.

The commission plans to take the 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 said.

On November 2, 2025, IEBC reported that 90,020 new voters had registered since the continuous exercise began. IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon added that 15,619 people had transferred their registration and 188 had 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 said.

He urged eligible citizens to continue taking advantage of the opportunity and called on institutions to support mobilisation efforts nationwide.

“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,” he added.

The statement comes as the United Opposition, in its own address, raised a series of concerns over the IEBC’s operations, voter registration processes and broader electoral integrity.

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Opposition leaders questioned the credibility of the newly constituted commission, arguing that its appointment did not fully reflect the spirit of consultation envisioned by the National Dialogue Committee.

They highlighted issues including the rollout of mandatory iris-scanning without adequate public engagement, limited registration hours that exclude weekends and the concentration of registration services at constituency offices rather than at ward level.

They also called for transparency on the deployment and identification of registration kits, tighter safeguards against misuse, strict adherence to legal requirements in voter transfers and publication of all staff involved in the registration process.

“The IEBC should publish a full list of staff involved in voter registration, together with their roles. Transparency is the foundation of trust, and without it, confidence in the process will remain weak. Kenyans deserve a registration exercise that is fair, inclusive, and above board. Anything less is a disservice to our democracy,” the leaders said.

The opposition further warned that weaknesses in voter registration processes could undermine both the November 27 by-elections and the 2027 General Election, noting that electoral malpractice can occur long before voting day.

They also commended the IEBC Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee for sanctioning perpetrators of violence in Kasipul, but criticised what they termed excessive security deployment in some areas.

Opposition leaders also accused several senior public officials of misusing state resources during the by-election period, citing alleged violations of constitutional and legal provisions. Among those mentioned are National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Mining CS Hassan Joho, Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku and Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi.

“Such conduct erodes public trust, undermines the fairness of our electoral process and violates the fundamental principles of accountability, neutrality and integrity that are the hallmark of public service,” they said.

The leaders further raised concerns over reports of voters being directed to photograph their ballots in exchange for money, describing the practice as voter bribery and intimidation. They urged IEBC to step up voter education on the proper use of phones around polling stations.

The opposition also warned against the risk of flawed ballot papers and called for strict verification of candidate details before printing.