The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has ramped up its nationwide voter registration campaign, aiming to enlist at least 6.3 million young people in preparation for the 2027 General Election. At an event held at the Kirinyaga Central NG-CDF Hall, IEBC commissioners, led by Moses Sankuli, encouraged eligible youths to register as voters and actively engage in the democratic process.
Low Youth Registration Raises Concerns
Sankuli highlighted the low turnout among young people, noting that despite many already holding national identity cards, only about 200,000 youths have registered nationwide — far below the commission’s expectations. He also shared constituency-level registration figures for Kirinyaga County:
- Mwea: 712 new voters (target: 169,000)
- Gichugu: 361 new voters (target: 119,000)
- Ndia: 214 new voters (target: 89,000)
- Kirinyaga Central: 783 new voters (target: 105,000)
Commissioners Urge Peaceful Civic Engagement
Commissioners Ann Nderitu and Moses Alutalala Mukhwana urged young people to channel their energy into peaceful civic participation. Alutalala encouraged youths to act as ambassadors of peace and avoid violence, while Nderitu called on young voters to actively engage in governance, fight misinformation, and advocate for issues affecting their generation. She assured them that the commission would provide full support to facilitate their participation in the electoral process.
Lowered Costs to Encourage Youth Participation
The commissioners also highlighted measures to make elective positions, including Member of County Assembly (MCA), Woman Representative, and Member of Parliament, more accessible to young aspirants by reducing the cost of contesting in the 2027 elections. This voter registration drive is part of IEBC’s broader strategy to expand the voter roll and strengthen youth representation in Kenya’s next general election.
