Lamu, Nyamira, Samburu record lowest voter registration numbers in ongoing IEBC Drive

A young Kenyan is registered as a voter for the first time at the Starehe Constituency IEBC offices in Nairobi on September 28, 2025. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)

By Lucy Mumbi
Monday, October 6, 2025

Counties across the country are showing varied participation, with Nairobi City leading with 1,597 new registrations.

Lamu, Nyamira and Samburu have recorded the lowest numbers of new voter registrations since the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) started the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on September 29, 2025, with only one, 10 and 18 new voters, respectively, added to the register.

Meanwhile, counties across the country are showing varied participation, with Nairobi City leading with 1,597 new registrations.

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Other counties with least voter registration include, Tana River (21), Tharaka-Nithi (24), Isiolo (34), Migori (44), Marsabit (49), Turkana (50), West Pokot (51), Taita Taveta (58), Homa Bay (55), Elgeyo Marakwet (53), Laikipia (63), Nandi (67), Bomet (69), Nyandarua (69), Embu (71), Narok (77), Trans Nzoia (78), Kericho (80), Kirinyaga (81), Kwale (91), Vihiga (92) and Busia (95).

Among counties with more than 100 new voters include Makueni at 101, followed by Kajiado (107), Uasin Gishu (119), Kakamega (127), Meru (134), Kisumu (139), Murang’a (151), Garissa (160), Bungoma (175), Siaya (181), Wajir (183), Kitui (205), Mandera (218), Kilifi (243), Machakos (260), Kisii (312), Kiambu (386), Mombasa (556) and Nairobi City (1,597).

In the first four days since the relaunch, IEBC recorded 7,048 new voter enrolments, 259 successful transfers to new electoral areas and eight voters updating their details nationally.

The commission has also introduced iris recognition technology to its biometric registration system, adding to fingerprints and digital facial photographs.

“The iris provides an alternative means of voter identification should fingerprint recognition fail. This ensures that our biometric verification system remains robust and reduces the risk of duplication or errors,” IEBC Chair Erastus Ethekon said.

The commission reiterated its strict compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2019, noting that all collected data is securely stored and accessed only by authorised personnel. Ethekon noted that any unauthorised access or misuse will attract full legal sanctions.

He emphasised the IEBC’s commitment to accessibility, transparency and inclusivity, noting that every eligible Kenyan has a fair and equal opportunity to register as a voter and exercise their democratic right to participate in free, fair and credible elections.

“We call upon all eligible citizens, particularly youth and first-time voters, to take advantage of this opportunity,” he said.

The CVR exercise is ongoing nationwide, except in areas scheduled for the November 27, 2025, by-elections, and aims to register 6.3 million new voters ahead of the next general elections.