The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) kicked off continuous voter registration on Monday, but early signs indicate a sluggish start as many young people, especially Gen Z, stay away from the exercise.
A spot check by the Star revealed that clerks at several centres had little to do over the past three days, with only a handful of new voters showing up.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel
The commission is eyeing 6.3 million new voters ahead of the 2027 General Election, most of them expected to be Gen Z. IEBC hopes to achieve at least 10 per cent of this target in the ongoing phase.
Although officials admitted the numbers are currently low, they expressed optimism that turnout will improve once civic education campaigns are intensified.
IEBC director of voter education and partnerships, Joyce Ekuam, urged the youth to seize the opportunity and register, stressing that their voices can only count if they participate physically in elections.
“Kenyan youth, 2027 is your year. Leave social media and register as voters. Elections are physical,” Ekuam said.
The slow start has drawn mixed reactions from political leaders. Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu called for faster issuance of IDs to ensure eligible youth can register, noting that delays have locked out many.
“Without IDs, young people cannot register. The Registrar of Persons must expedite this process,” he said, adding that Gen Zs are the main target since most older voters are already registered.
Soy MP David Kiplagat, however, cautioned against panic, pointing out that the exercise runs for 18 months. He believes politicians will later drive mobilisation efforts, increasing numbers as the deadline approaches.
Civil society groups also weighed in, blaming youth apathy on unemployment and the inconvenience of physical registration. Kenya National Civil Society Centre director Suba Churchill suggested online registration to attract tech-savvy youth.
“That slow start was expected due to limited sensitisation. If IEBC adopts an online option, turnout will improve. Still, many Kenyans register last-minute, so I believe the target will be met,” he said.
