The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has clarified that voters who registered before 2012 do not need to register again, unless they were not captured in the biometric voter register introduced that year.
In a statement dated April 4, the commission explained that the pre-2012 register was manual, but a new biometric Register of Voters was created in 2012 following the 2010 Constitution and boundary delimitation.
“Should those who registered before 2012 as voters need to register afresh? Not at all UNLESS they DID NOT register as voters from 2012 when the new Register of Voter (ROV) was established under the new Constitution of Kenya 2010 and boundaries delimitation of 2012,” read part of the statement.
IEBC argued that all eligible Kenyans have been required to enroll biometrically, and that the register used from 2013 through the 2022 General Election contained over 22 million voters.
IEBC Orders Some Kenyans Registered Before 2012 to Re-Register as Voters
The commission highlighted that only individuals who missed biometric registration in 2012 and have not registered since need to do so.
IEBC also reassured the public that this process is part of efforts to maintain an inclusive and accurate voter register, deepening democracy in Kenya.
This follows earlier statements by the commission demanding that voters registered before 2013 reregister as registration continues.
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The IEBC Chairman, Erastus Ethekon, noted that individuals registered between 2012 and 2026 do not need to register again.
Additionally, the commission argued that the current biometric register came into operation in 2012 following key electoral reforms, and thus, voters who registered before then have not been included in the current biometric register.
This means all Kenyans registered before November 2012, when the roll was closed for the August 2013 General Election, must have their biometric details captured again to ensure their names are in the system and enable them to cast their ballots next year.
IEBC Announces Progress on the Ongoing Voter Registration Process
Elsewhere, IEBC noted that it had registered more than 344,316 new voters, recorded 18,610 voter transfers, and processed 329 requests for changes or updates to particulars, signaling steady uptake of the exercise across the country.
To ease access, the commission said Kenyans can register from any location nationwide without necessarily traveling to their home counties, thanks to the deployment of open kits that allow voters to select their preferred polling stations.
IEBC also outlined strict requirements for voter transfers, stating that individuals must physically present themselves at their intended constituency offices and submit their biometric data afresh.
Further, the commission urged eligible Kenyans, particularly youth and first-time voters, to take advantage of the remaining days, noting that the exercise will not be extended beyond the April 28 deadline.
The commission also called on Kenyans to register early and avoid a last-minute rush, urging citizens to mobilize friends, families, and communities to participate in the exercise.
Also Read: IEBC Announces Temporary Job Opportunities for Kenyans: How to Apply
How to Register as a Voter
To participate in elections process, an individual is eligible to vote after attaining the following :
- Kenyan citizen 18 years and above.
- Possess a valid Kenyan Identity Card (ID) or a valid Kenyan Passport.
- Not registered before as a voter.
- Not convicted of an election offense in the past five years.
- Not declared to be of unsound mind.
